I punch myself in the jaw. Just to see if I can.

I think our name should be "Koo" because it starts with a "K".

Haven't we already done a 'Kobold Sorcerer Quest'?

>"Hey, I could use a small nap..."
>4 hours later
>"Well shit."

>>17967664
Quick question: is this a reboot/restart, or are we just mind-blended right now?

If the former, we'll wait and see.

If the latter, we are Mythnar, and we were...just about to gain some draconic power? A little hazy now...

And then you hear violin music.

At first, softly. Then, the sound builds until you begin to feel it isn't an illusion any more. You see a group of hooded figures in fur cloaks, each one holding a different instrument. One a violin, one a guitar, and one humming to itself. Four in all come out of the side of your vision, each one taking off its hood to reveal its identity as one of the flind creatures, a shortened gnoll with bright red nose, claws, and teeth, and a black mask around the eyes. One of the four is tallest, nearly six feet, and is a deep brown color, with most of his face taken over by the black mask. The one furthest to your left, a thin flind, seems to be constructing some sort of large machine with collapsible parts. The other two appear as typical flinds, with pallid thin fur and a perpetual sneer from bunched up skin near the lips.

"We ready?" The far right one asks, gruffly, tuning his guitar.

"Yup." The gangly flind replies from his construction pile. You hear him slap something, and the world around you changes to the crystal caverns.

You see the flinds begin to tune their instruments more quickly, like machines sorting out which tones were appropriate. They finish in a handful of seconds, each standing ready to play.

>>17969389
"...?"

Listen to the song of their people! ...Or our people; either/or.

(Don't mind me, just rewriting this for the third time because the new Firefox update apparently doesn't support saving in this field any more between attempts at posting.)

>>17970255
Lol.

“Yesterday,” A man's voice starts, one of the flinds moving their mouth along with the words. An image of you, simplified and younger, with both arms intact, appears in the air, surrounded by silhouettes of kobolds around you. “All my troubles seemed so far away.” The shady images fade, until finally the environment around your image is replaced by rough cavern walls, lit by pits of magma that open up on the rocky ground below as the strange machine shifts the image. You see the twisted spires of a dark castle in the backdrop, the black skin of the castle Rosenkraft refracting the light of the lava. One of the flinds appears next to you in the image, grinning widely as it points behind your image, where a number of chains animate and bind you to an iron cross. “Now it looks as though they're here to stay,” The flind digs down into the earth with his talons, prying loose a layer of stone, and pulling up a welding torch and welding mask. He grins sadistically, stalking towards your image as he lights a cigar off of the blowtorch. “Oh I believe in yesterday.”

He slices through the image's right arm with relative ease, the limb popping clean off. Both your image and the flind stare at the severed limb for a moment, before the flind picks it up, sticks a ring on it, and flings it to a few drow who spring out of the Rosenkraft castle, then run off screaming maniacally. The flind then looks over at your image, pulls out an orange pencil, and scribbles over your right arm until it is replaced by orange armor. He ducks back out of the image to resume “playing” with the other flinds.

>Beatles? In my KSQ? It's more groovy then you think.

"There's a shadow hanging over me." The words are punctuated by the Rosenkraft castle surging upwards, into a tall, dark figure you might think was humanoid were it not for the writhing things at its edges. It swells outwards into a cylindrical room that you recognize as a place you have already visited earlier. The matte black material that makes up this place looks more like the same material Rosenkraft was made from. A large number of what appear to be boiling marshmallows swarm from the sides of your vision, and the image of you looks back and forth in mock horror. "Oh, yesterday came suddenly."

You see a simplified image of a drow woman appear from the top of your vision, fighting off the creatures with a razor-edged whip. They retreat, and then she waves, skipping off with a small musical note rising above her head. You reach out after her for a moment, looking a bit caught off guard. The flinds pretend to be crooning in the background.

"Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.”

Your image seems to be confused at this last turn of lyrics.

>>17971684
"...keep going, young Kobold. Keep going..."

“Yesterday,” The environment swaps to the Crystal Caverns, where you stand expectant with a number of soldiers behind you, line rifles drawn at the cavern horizon. You can see a crimson symbol rise up on a violet backing, a red triangle flanked by outwards curved lines on three sides.
“Love was such an easy game to play.”
You hear the cracking and booming of artillery fire, from both sides. You see bright flashes, feel the shockwaves around you.
“Now I need a place to hide away.” You see a troglodyte army amassing itself on the other side of a hill, their countless pikes poking up amidst the purple and red flags. At this point, the machine is beginning to smoke and hiss, and the flinds are looking at each other and pointing away then creeping in that direction without changing their facing. They each leave their instruments floating in the air, secured by a string. The song keeps going, vocals and all.
“Oh, I believe in yesterday.”

You even hear recorded clapping go off as the vision disappears, the cackling laughter of the flinds audible in the echoing strains of the last chords of music.

End Intermission

Heading to bed, but one more post before I sleep.

>>17972270
"...I gotta stay off that Dragon's Fire liquor..."

Morning bump.

Posting is acting weird; bumping.

You come to in a white room, sitting on a simple wooden chair. The walls around you are white, featureless.

You feel a presence about you in the room, but you cannot see anyone else. After a short time, you receive a message in your mind.

<<What do you seek?>>

>>17977793
"I seek power...to win a war." Squint at the lighting and try to get a clearer look around.

>>17977848

"I seek power. To win a war." You say, your eyes having adjusted more comfortably to the lighting.

<<What cost can you pay?>>

>>17977860
Grin. "I still have another arm..."

Tap our prosthetic. "The only thing I cannot offer you is the safety and future of my country."

You feel the room moving beneath your feet. The wall to your back seems the "highest" point as the room's stony surface gently undulates.

It is white, smooth, but not shiny. Much like white paint would appear to be.

>>17977926
"Nice place..."

"So, why should I pay you my arm? What will you give me in return?"

>>17977892

"I still have another arm..." You say, tapping your prosthetic. "The only thing I cannot offer you is the safety and future of my country."

<<Why give anything for them?>>

<<They abandoned you.>>

>>17977980
Blink hard. "Well, my life wasn't worth the resources of several men...embroiling the nation in some Drow slaving prisons..."

>>17977995

"Well, my life wasn't worth the resources of several men. Or embroiling servants of the nation in some Drow slaving prisons." You respond. "So, why should I pay you my arm? What will you give me in return?"

<<You have not given a reason.>>

<<Why do you protect those who will not protect you?>>

>>17978027
Sit quiet for a moment, searching for words.

"You meet a lot of people in life. Lots of them, you don't quite like. A few of them you even hate."

Stare at our prosthetic. "You get a few scars here and there, and you see how cruel some people can be..."

Raise our gaze to the front of the room and the disembodied voice.

"But! You also meet a few good fellows. Sure, they may be a little hard, or inexperienced, but you can relate. They feel pain just like you, share the same foods, and even like sitting around a good fire just enjoying each other's company."

Recall the Trog's aggressive tactics.

"I won't say that our tactics of cruelty aren't the same. However, I will say that we're not some two-bit lunatics who want to form some power-hungry empire. We simply wish to provide for ourselves and live in comfort..."

Clench a fist and try rousing our patriotic fervor.

"My people might not know what I have endured, but that is all part of the sacrifice. If they can simply enjoy their lives, then that is enough for me."

>>17978114

You sit quiet for a moment, organizing your thoughts. "You meet a lot of people in life. Lots of them, you don't quite like. A few of them you even hate." You look at your prosthetic, the hand's armored fingers showing the wear and tear of continual use, tiny dents and scratches here and there. "You get a few scars here and there, and you see how cruel some people can be."
You look up to the front of the room, towards the disembodied being. "But! You also meet a few good fellows. Sure, they may be a little hard, or inexperienced, but you can relate. They feel pain just like you, share the same foods, and even like sitting around a good fire just enjoying each other's company." You sit back, thinking for a moment before continuing. "I won't say that our tactics of cruelty aren't the same as those we might be facing. However, I will say that we're not some two-bit lunatics who want to form an empire. We simply wish to provide for ourselves, and live." You clench your metal fist. "My people might not know what I have endured, but that is all part of the sacrifice. If they can simply enjoy their lives, then that is enough for me."

You look up around the room, noting no change. After a long pause, you receive another message.

<<Very well. Your motive is clear.>>

<<You do not have a prior entry into the Astrolabe. Constructing one presently.>>

You feel the room around you shaking, and then stabilizing. You hear the creaking of hinges, and look behind you to see a wooden door in the white wall swung open, outwards. Beyond it, you see a bright, blue sky.

<<Proceed.>>

>>17978264
Step forward, keeping vigilant.

>>17978353

You step out into a garden made of stone, with a few short trees in the surrounding area. The blue sky seems to be everywhere else, both up and down. It doesn't hurt your eyes, however.

<<Identity Code Compiled.>>

<<Welcome to the Astrolabe, Master Mynthar.>>

The surrounding sky flashes with violet light, and innumerable images come up at the edge of the floating island that you sit upon. You can see images of your past, the future, and some sort of symbols moving by quickly.

>>17979474
Raise a hand, as if to stop the images. If we can, move our hand in a wave motion until we arrive at images that include the current time.

>>17979545

You hold up a hand as though to stop the images, and the wall of them in front of you fades, to be replaced by a new wall of images depicting similar scenarios.

>>17981155
"What is this? Some sort of scrying pool?"

>>17981329

"What is this? Some sort of scrying pool?" You ask the voice.

<<This is the Data Entry Pool. It samples collected memories from your mind and displays them. It also extrapolates data from existing memories and refines it with our Future Sight programs. Please feel free to ask any questions.>>

>>17981438

Contemplating your new surroundings, you turn about, looking at all of the blue sky surrounding you. Or is it a sky at all? You see no clouds. Maybe it's just a larger room, you think.

You see that the door behind you has some words printed on it over a brass label: "CASE 1: Mynthar"

Around you, to each side, you find a similar door that seems to come into being as you move closer to it, labeled "CASE 2: Tayn". After a bit of poking, you find a similar door on the opposite side of the island with "CASE 3: Turen" printed on it.

>>17982085
"Best not to intrude on a friend's life..."

"Um, Data Entry Pool; requesting points of Draconic influence..."

>>17982447

"Best not to intrude on a friend's life." You murmur, looking back to the wall of images. "Um, Data Entry Pool; requesting points of Draconic influence?" You ask it.

The images shift, spiraling away one by one into the distance. Only a few images remain behind. The first is of Dalak, holding a vial of your blood. You can clearly remember that occurrence. The next you recognize as an occasion from your days as a scout, one you're not sure you recall. The last is an image that you do not recognize, with some sort of distortion in the picture. You can see what looks like a violet-orange cloud against a black sky.

>>17983048
Tap a finger against the picture of us as a scout.

"Can I get a refresh on that memory?"

>>17983078

"Can I get a refresh on that memory?" You ask, tapping on the image, and it grows to fill your vision, against the featureless blue sky.

You see crossbow bolts whizzing by you as you crouch behind a rock in some forlorn cavern. Definitely your scout days.

A kobold off to one side of you pulls on your sleeve, and your gaze turns, revealing a kobold probably around your age now with a jagged scar across one brow.

"You tired of sitting here all day?" He asks, hefting a crossbow of his own over one shoulder.

"Gods yes." You hear your voice say, and the two of you crawl into an obviously recently constructed hole, the dirt still falling from the ceiling.

"This stable?" You ask quietly after a few minutes of crawling.

"Too late to ask now." The kobold ahead of you responds, his face visible ahead of you in the cold white of your darkvision as he looks back behind him for a moment. "We're almost there."

"Come out and we will spare your miserable lives!" You hear a drow call in remarkably good draconic from further on in the tunnel, just as you see the small amount of light in the cavern up ahead. You poke your head out after the other kobold proceeds outwards, and you can see that the tunnel has put you in an alcove at a higher position than the drow patrol that has been keeping your company pinned.

"I'd rather die than live as a drow slave!" You hear one of the kobolds you used to serve with shout back.

One drow, wearing a single white star pointing in eight directions on his chest, points his crossbow back towards the rest of your comrades. "Very well." The crossbow fires, and you hear a cry of pain as the bolt connects. You can hear several kobolds rushing to the wounded's aid, and a hail of crossbow bolts forces the drow back behind their makeshift cover.

>>17983580

You can hear someone breathing hard in the image, and it is only just before you rise to a full standing posture, your chest heaving, that you realize the you in the image is the one panting. You let out a bloodthirsty scream, the sound coming from your mouth not one that any kobold should be capable of making. The drow begin to scatter, but as they do you can already see your right hand finishing the first motion for one of many bolts of lightning that tear through the drow troops. Your aim and speed with the spell is so precise that you tear through a crossbow bolt fired by the white-starred drow in mid flight, the wood grain disintegrating on impact into a million charred splinters. The bolt finds the drow's chest, and with a jerk and a crackle, he falls to the ground with his clothes smoldering.

You must have gotten off at least six lightning bolts in only a handful of seconds.

>>17983615


The older kobold who had led you through the gap looks at you in astonishment, then back to the ruined drow patrol. He laughs, the tension of the grim scene melting away. "Well done! Their faces were priceless!"

"I... Uh," You hear yourself say. Obviously, at the time, your outburst hadn't escaped your notice.

The kobold pats you on the shoulder. "Not to worry! Sorcerers develop new powers all the time! It's in your blood, right?" He shakes his head, looking at the drow patrol again. "I wouldn't look a dragon in the mouth when he gives me a gift, and I suggest you don't either. I'm sure you'll grow into it."

"Right." You hear yourself say, sounding almost uncertain.

"Come on, let's regroup and get ready to head out before any reinforcements arrive." The kobold says, turning around and crouching to get back into the tunnel.

"Yessir, Sergeant Ortiz!" You say, saluting. The sergeant looks back at you and laughs once again.

"Now that I can see you in light, you really look red!" He points back at the fallen bodies of the drow. "Good. Keep that anger. It will serve you well in the future."

>>17983615
>>17983580
>>17983629
"Hm, so that was when it first manifested...interesting."

"Data Entry Pool, show me that final vision. The one with the orange and black outline."

>>17983672

"Hm, so that was when it first manifested. Interesting." You say as the image fades to black, shrinking back down to its place amongst the other images. "Data Entry Pool, show me that final vision. The one with the orange and black outline."

As the image grows, you see a few colored lines run across the image, disappearing as spontaneously as they appeared.

You see the image expand, the cloud lit by orbs of glowing light, the violet hue slowly turned to orange by the light. You seem fixated on that, for a moment, before you hear a voice echo in your mind.

"Arkaviss!"

The voice is at first, stern, then, far louder.

"ARKAVISS!"

The image is intruded upon by a mess of colored lines, and you can hear a buzzing, like that of electricity.

The image fades.

<<It appears your mind cannot process these images at this current time. Analysis indicates this is because a vital portion of your brain does not exist.>>

>>17984238
"...elaborate."

>>17984301

"...Elaborate." You ask the voiceless voice.

<<It appears that the portion of the brain where such data is stored never went through the proper growth processes. Thus, only the juvenile portion of the brain remains.>>

I have a few more posts in me; then, I'm off to bed.

>>17984732
Squint.

"Juvenile? My brain feels fine..."

"What process did this section of the brain command?"

Morning bump.

>>17984767

"Juvenile? My brain feels fine..." You ask the voice. "What process did this section of the brain command?"

<<The area of the brain in question is capable of remembering limited data about ancestors, as well as for sending and receiving telepathic communications over a long distance.>>

<<Upon further analysis, your brain structure does not match the majority of brain structures from past users. This is likely the result of genetic divergence over several hundred generations.>>

The voice lets those words hang in your mind a moment before continuing. <<This has caused this interface to reach a logical conclusion: You are not who you claim to be. However, the dates between activations call into question the need to activate security. It is obvious this system was no longer needed for is intended purpose.>>

>>17988211
"Tell me; who were these ancestors of mine, exactly? For what reason did they create this elaborate spell?"

>>17988525

"Tell me; who were these ancestors of mine, exactly? For what reason did they create this elaborate spell?" You ask the voice.

It sighs, almost audibly.

<<Well... That is... It's complicated. This system is more of a storage unit than anything else. All of these features came extra from the Teutharin.>>

<<That was 560 cycles ago. What a long time to be asleep.>>

You realize he still hasn't answered your question.

<<As a marker light.>>

"What?" You ask, not understanding the voice.

<<A beacon by which to direct their Aetherships.>>

>>17988667
"Extraplanar? Messy work."

Rub our temples.

"Exactly how many planes did my ancestors cover?"

"So, aside from a memory storage unit, does this terminal do anything else?"

If it asks, be frank with it.

"In my world, legend says that the pillars were left by the dragons as a source of their power. We weren't exactly sure what that power included, but I suppose that knowledge is the greatest form of power..."

>>17988701

"Extraplanar?" You ask the voice.

<<Not quite. The Aether as a whole is a part of this plane.>>

"Messy work." You mutter to yourself. "Exactly how many planes did my ancestors cover?"

<<Countless. They had all of the time this universe has been created to do so.>>

You shake your head. Going to have to play hardball and be direct with this thing. "So, aside from acting as a memory storage unit, does this terminal do anything else?"

<<It is a map-manufacturing station. Unfortunately, you do not have the necessary container to accept the map information.>>

<<I store over eighty-nine centillion samplings of information. With space for five point three quadringentillion samplings of similar size, it is safe to say that even were I to store all the information on your brain, my storage space would be relatively unaffected.>>

"In my world, legend says that the pillars were left by the dragons as a source of their power. We weren't exactly sure what that power included, but I suppose that knowledge is the greatest form of power." You say to it.

<<Only the correct knowledge is valuable.>> The voice answers swiftly. <<What knowledge do you think will win you a war?>>

>>17989196
"Trog numbers, points of attack, attacks that lead to ambushes or heavy losses on our side, undefended points in their empire, names of slaves that would lead a revolution, days their generals have a cold, anything!"

Bamp.

>>17989275

"Trog numbers, points of attack, attacks that lead to ambushes or heavy losses on our side, undefended points in their empire, names of slaves that would lead a revolution, days their generals have a cold, anything!" You ask it.

<<If assurance of future events is all you seek, then I am afraid you will have to ensure its occurrence yourself. My predictions are powerless in the face of actual events when determining what will happen. I can simply extrapolate an event from existing occurrences, then produce a scenario using known data entered into the necessary fields.>> The voice's words are sympathetic, or at least as close as the voice is going to get. <<I am sorry. Mercurial specifics such as the ones you ask for are difficult to outline with present data samples. There are currently only 18 troglodytes on record, and their lifespan has long since expired unless they have found some way of cheating death.>>

>>17990848
Frown our lips.

"Very well...what can /I/ acquire to make this war go with the least amount of collateral?"

"What can you tell me about the Troglodyte body scent? I need both an easily mass produced yet effective counter to this strategy."

>>17990926

"Very well. What can /I/ acquire to make this war go with the least amount of collateral?" You ask it.

<<Introducing new technology often creates problems, but at a timely juncture, it can also make the deciding factor in a war.>>

<<My question was thus phrased: What will you be willing to give up to ensure your people's future? The deciding hand of history is a heavy one indeed.>>

>>17991048
Count the possible sacrifices on our hand.

"I can give up my title, my other arm, my draconic heritage, even my life, if need be. As long as the Crystal Caverns wins the war..."

>>17991266

"I can give up my title, my other arm, my draconic heritage, even my life, if need be. As long as the Crystal Caverns wins the war!" You shout at the voice.

The air is uncomfortably silent for a moment.

<<You do not understand.>>

<<It is not something of your own you might have to sacrifice, but something of theirs.>>

<<Are you ready to make such a grave decision?>>

>>17991723
Look back towards the other files of Tayn and Turen.

"No....no, I won't choose them." Put a hand to our chest. "Is what I have to give not enough?"

>>17992250

"No, I won't choose them." You point up at the voice, turning to look around the room. "Is what I have to give not enough?"

<<You do not understand.>>

<<You do not just decide for them, but for all of your people. Their lives may be changed forever by this new discovery of yours.>>

>>17993070
Deep breaths.

"What are my options?"

>>17993132

"What are my options?" You ask the voice.

<<Whatever information I possess that you can think of is yours. I only ask that you be responsible in implementation. It is often the cause of great societal upheaval when new advancements are introduced.>>

>>17993508
"I understand; I'll try to stray away from specifics, then."

Look up towards the voice, stern.

"My greatest concern, aside from direct tactics, will be combating the Trog's chemicals. I need to know if our country has a plant available to them to counter these gases."

"What weaponry do the Trog utilize the most often?"

"Where will the greatest breach occur in our defenses?"

"And...how many of our citizens will be in danger?"

>>17993632

"I understand; I'll try to stray away from specifics, then." You pause for a moment, organizing your thoughts. "My greatest concern, aside from direct tactics, will be combating the Trog's chemicals. I need to know if our country has a plant available to them to counter these gases."

<<I can answer in the affirmative.>>

You continue, your tone stern. "What weaponry do the Trog utilize the most often? Where will the greatest breach occur in our defenses? And... How many of our citizens will be in danger?"

<<The pieces are not yet in position for any such strategically overwhelming events.>> The voice pauses. <<Their tactics at present from what I can gather mirror some ancient troglodyte tactics, so perhaps the old data can be of some use after all.>>

The voice pauses. <<Although, I would remind you that in order for the troglodyte musk to become a factor, they must be within a certain distance. Long-ranged combat would allow you to neutralize that advantage unless they have developed new methods of delivery in the last 560 cycles.>>

>>17994315
"Their leader has managed to round up enough Trogs and smaller Underdark nations to his rule in a brief span of time. I will say that, yes, they probably have developed a new method of delivering said toxins. One of my newfound allies has hinted at the Trogs utilizing a way to close the gap."

"Where should I invest to discover this plant? What way is the plant administered? Orally? Via injection?"

>>17994679

"Their leader has managed to round up enough Trogs and smaller Underdark nations to his rule in a brief span of time. I will say that, yes, they probably have developed a new method of delivering said toxins. One of my newfound allies has hinted at the Trogs utilizing a way to close the gap." You look up at it. "Where should I invest to discover this plant?"

<<You have already discovered it.>>

"What plant am I supposed to be using, then?" You respond. "Be more specific!"

<<The moss you have already acquired.>>

You raise an eyebrow. "Really? It's that stuff?"

<<The effects of its use in ioun stone powered gas masks will make it plain to you.>> The voice answers.

>>17994811
"Well...thank you."

Clear our throat.

"What of my allies? Tayn? Turen?"

>>17994932

"Well... Thank you." You say to the voice. "What of my allies? Tayn? Turen?"

<<I am afraid they are still in Case Analysis.>>

"Still?" You shake your head.

<<Your perception of time is greatly sped up compared to theirs due to your mind's synchronization with this system.>> The voice responds. <<Even a moment for them could be minutes for you.>>

"So I have some spare time." You say, watching the images at the edge of the island disappear and reappear.

>>17995083
"What of the aftermath? What will become of the Trogs?"

>>17995224

"What of the aftermath? What will become of the Trogs?" You ask the voice.

<<It is unknown. That depends on their leader.>>

>>17995923
"Fair enough. What can you tell me about their leader? Spare no detail if you can."

>>17995983

"Fair enough. What can you tell me about their leader? Spare no detail if you can."

<<I will. I know nothing. If you brought him here, things might be different.>>

>>17996128
Pinch an eyelid.

"Any weapon of my ancestors I might come to utilize? I know you've sampled my blood, so you know of my Draconic ancestry."

"Also, I saw some rather...peculiar singers before I came to. Know anything about that?"

"Any weapon of my ancestors I might come to utilize? I know you've sampled my blood, so you know of my Draconic ancestry." You say, the voice making a peculiar sound.

<<Ahurm, well, that is to say... Draconic? Not entirely.>>

You frown at the voice, continuing with a more pressing question. "Also, I saw some rather peculiar singers before I came to. Know anything about that?"

<<Those creatures? I'm sorry to say that I do not know much about them. They do not appear in my records.>>

>>17996931
Cross our arms. "I was hoping for something a little more substantial...I suppose this knowledge pool sufficed. Tell me; what would you tell me if you were in my position?"

Also, I'm heading to bed, OP. See you next week.

>>17997004

"I was hoping for something a little more substantial. I suppose this knowledge pool sufficed. Tell me; what would you tell me if you were in my position?" You ask the voice.

The voice remains quiet for a moment. Then, another voice pervades your mind. This one seems... Female? Somehow, perhaps more highly pitched in contrast.

<<I have tried to advise you as best I can. I need more information if I am to be more useful.>> The voice is curt, forceful. And then it is gone.

The next vocalization is another new voice, raspy, echoing and metallic. <<Maybe I can tell you about the properties of that moss some more. And its relation to the crystal you wear in place of an arm, and its sudden sapience.>>

The original voice speaks after a moment. <<It all comes down to a certain question. If you're willing to accept where the true origin of life on this world lies.>> The original voice fades for a moment.

You think for a while. But, you see no alternative to your curiosity. "Alright, I'll bite. What do I have to lose?"

<<Only your ignorance.>> The original voice says, and you see the blue sky darken, the blue-violet of the night sky giving way to stars, and constellations among them.

"What am I supposed to be seeing?" You ask the voice, staring up into the painful pinpricks of light.

<<Up there.>> The voice trails off, emptily.

"What?" You say, looking around.

<<Your ancestors came from up there.>>