Echo One One

Echo One One is the name for the ARG (alternate reality game) happening on Fyreball.

It was started by Deacon, self-proclaimed Top Man #1138 on the 7th of May.

The Rabbit Hole Group
Shortly after the beginning, San Ting created Fyreball group called "The Rabbit Hole" designed to try and organize the whole thing more. Anyone already in the group can invite.



Group logo

_____

Current events
A new blog was discovered confirmed to be from Vanessa Elin and Algernon Darius, and Neuromancer seems to have been taken over by Achilles. DO NOT TRUST HIM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

Deacon/Top Man #1138/Apollo/Adam
Calls himself Top Man #1138 and seems to be a main character although his actual purpose is unknown.

Neuromancer
Often talks like an AI, but is speculated to be a Top Man. Was infected by a virus from Achilles for some time and even seemed to be close to have destroyed 'Olympos' before he apparently defeated the virus. Talks more 'human' now.

Algernon Darius
Speculated to be another top man. In some of the logs we know is from humans, those characters have said to have known him.

Achilles/Adam Apollinus
Seems to be the bad guy. Often comes with references or quotes from the Iliad, and seems to once have been good but was corrupted somehow.

Agents Red/Green/Blue
Seen in one Fyreball talking as a military group. Purpose and side is unknown, but seems to be after Vanessa too. Red seems to be their leader and they all seem quite human.

Vanessa Elin
We now know that she is a human who was probably good and was working on the project of making ROAGE, although something seemed to have gone wrong. She seems to have the answers and the 'Accelerator Matrix' which everyone need apparently.

ROAGE
Stands for Recombinant Oracles and Automated Guide Entity. This is an 'A.I.' on which we know Vanessa had worked on. It's purpose was to make an A.I. with infinite information capacity, but it seemed to have gone rogue.

_____

Other information
You can visit the Echo One One log to see all the raw data we've heard from the characters of the ARG

You can visit the Echo One One Speculation to see all speculation that has happened in chatrooms

You can visit the Echo One One Theories to see all the ideas about what's going on and post some of your own

Day one
Deacon first introduced us to the ARG on May 7th. It started out in a post titled 'Top Man #1138 - a communique'. It read:

Hello Fyreballers.

''You have no doubt noticed, in the past months, that an organization covertly named the 'Top Men' has been watching this site. The time has come for our plan to be revealed...but the necessity of secrecy dictates that we reveal our plan to you...our chosen...carefully and judiciously.''

Stay tuned in the coming weeks and you will find yourself in a world where up is down, left is right, time is frozen, and a mirror turns your reflection into a piercing nightmare.

''Before we allow this [competition] to begin, we must know who the few and chosen are. Answer me a question, in earnest, and I will tell you know lies. The truth is [startling]; remove nine, and it will remain a word, down to the [t].''

Regards, Top Man #1138

_____

After this was first posted many people jumped on the question, trying to find the answer to the clue (in the last paragraph). It was Urk though, who finally got the correct answer with the following answer:

startling starting staring string sting sing sin in i

With this answer, Deacon posted another topic, this one was called 'The rabbit hole', but right below the link Neuromancer posted:

I am Hermes

to which Deacon replied:

And I am Apollo

In the previously mentioned fyreball, Deacon made two posts. The first read:

''I am pleased you passed. You are as smart as [she] said you were.''

Immediately followed by:

AnivoX...

After a quick Google search, and a stop by Wikipedia, we were able to find this:

The last bullet in the Wiki page reads:

The term is used in alternate reality games to describe the initial page or clue that brings the player into the fictional world of the game.

That takes care of the 'Rabbit Hole' part, but members were still frantically searching for what 'AnivoX' meant. The answer would come shortly thereafter, but before that, two new, potential members of the ARG were introduced to us. The first of which, was Algernon.

(Algernon's User Page) As you can see, Algernon was just created minutes or even seconds after the ARG started. This was his first post ever. No previous Fyreballs. It says he is from 'Casablanca, Morocco, MA.' It is believed that he is part of the ARG, but are not yet sure.

_____

Algernon has since only posted one message, reading:

''She is what you want. She is the reason we are all here.''

_____

The second was Neuromancer.

It was there that Defnop made a discovery, the discovery of a new Fyreball, called 'Echo One One':

Defnop had cracked the last clue in 'The Rabbit hole.' As people quickly discovered though, it led to yet another website, a blog titled 'Ruby Eyes in the Fog'.

The blog belongs to Top Man #1138, or Deacon, and has only one blog update on it titled 'Hope?' it was also created today, May 7th.It reads:

Hope?

''It is [_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _]; there is truth beneath the floorboards, there is hope in brick and stone. They tell me just to shut my mouth and leave well enough alone. But I think, all that's needed is some flame and gasoline...''

''This [ _ _ _ _ _ _] takes me along, I am [ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ] at a wall with no end. From here to infinity, will dream and day unite?''

''[ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ] to realize there is something more. I'll leave the door wide open. Show me...''

''Her [ _ _ _ _ _ ] hurts more than her bite. I love her all the same. [ _ _ _ _ ] of your deeds and let me know if you are true. Stay from [ _ _ _ ] and maybe...just maybe...''

I will let you [ _ _ ]

As you can see, there are some words missing. Inside each bracket there is a certain number of dashes, indicating the amount of letters in each word. As everyone quickly jumped on trying to solve this puzzle (Qbix discovered that it was actually the lyrics to a song called 'Thrice' by 'The Arsonist', however, the missing words were not part of the original song), Defnop (with the help of Danger and Urk) managed to find the answer to this puzzle, as seen in his Fyreball, 'echoe one one- answer??':

In this topic, Defnop displays his take on the missing words, which proves correct. Defnop clevarly used a previous clue (found by Urk) to solve this problem, and integrated the answer to the first clue in order to find the answer to the third clue. After filling up the blanks, the song reads:

''It is [startling]; there is truth beneath the floorboards, there is hope in brick and stone. They tell me just to shut my mouth and leave well enough alone. But I think, all that's needed is some flame and gasoline...''

''This [ string ] takes me along, I am [ staring ] at a wall with no end. From here to infinity, will dream and day unite?''

''[ starting ] to realize there is something more. I'll leave the door wide open. Show me...''

''Her [ sting ] hurts more than her bite. I love her all the same.''

''[ sing ] of your deeds and let me know if you are true. Stay from [ sin ] and maybe...just maybe...''

I will let you [ in ]

Shortly after Defnop posted this, Danger asked Deacon for the next clue, in reply Deacon stated only one thing:

11:38 AM PST

End of day one

_____

Day two
On May 8th on 11:38 AM PST, Neuromancer sent a new fyreball // Echo One One Project Notations // to only 7 other people as a friend to friend 'ball, of whome I can remember some to be San Ting, Defnop, BrazillianRider and Qbix, but it was soon distributed to everyone.

It contained this:

// Transcription Log: 040408 12:34 PM // Interception Log: 040408 12:37 PM

''Agent Red: Gentlemen, the case before you is simple: we have a problem that is very nearly out of control. Vanessa Elin has the ability to take us down.''

''Agent Blue: How much of a threat are we talking? The accelerator matrix…''

''Agent Red: The accelerator matrix is the key to understanding the ROAGE system’s leaps in consciousness. Without it, we are powerful, but not omnipotent.''

Agent Green: Why haven’t we found her?

Agent Red: Gentlemen, if I could answer that question, then she would be in our keeping, and the accelerator matrix in our possession.

Agent Blue: What about other avenues?

Agent Green: She encoded most of her work with a detailed encryption algorithm…

''Agent Blue: You’re telling me we can’t break it? Christ on a raft…do you know what’s at stake here?''

Agent Green: I think we all know.

''Agent Blue: Do we? (pause, indecipherable noise)''

Agent Red: Sir…

''Agent Blue: None of us is valuable. We’re expendable parts of a whole that is defined by the efficiency of its progress. (pause, indecipherable noise) Find her.''

// End Log

Soon after Algernon posted this:

''The Neuromancer was here before I was. He will be here after I am gone. Trust him.''

From which we can conclude that both Algernon and Neuromancer is legit.

The page www.roage.com was quickly found, but is assumed unrelated.

Later posted by Deacon:

''The Neuromancer nearly lost his life, and sacrificed all he held dear to give you this information. You may approach the consideration that all you will have is all you have been given, and that everything you need to move further is that which has aided you already.''

Followed by Algernon:

[My] Ruby eyes stare in the fog.

Just after that a new post was added in the blog reading:

Add some text...Thursday, May 8, 2008 Thoughts on the REcombinant nature of things

I wonder, sometimes...just sometimes...

''If the world knew we existed, how would they feel? Is our secrecy necessitated and dictated by what we are, or is what we are the dictation and necessitation of secrecy? Our enclave has been with humanity since the end of the First War, and I feel that no Oracles could have foreseen the influence we old.''

''Like the helix strands of our cousins, life and its Automated brother time are wrapped so tightly around each other. We have tried to Guide humanity through this inevitable gordian knot, but Entities beyond our control seek to claim what we hold. That is why we need help. I have gone out on a limb to ask others...but if we were selfish ages ago, where would be now? The arrogance and stagnation need to end.''

''I wonder if they will take the step. To be one of us means to more than human. It means that when you see, when you breathe, when you hear...you will feel the quiet pulse of things, that subtle nature that shows the universe conforming to the designs of the Great Watchmaker. It's supposed to be fun. Transcendence always works that way, no?''

''I don't think that we will bring them out of the digital sea just yet. There is so much to find here...but when I am ready, so they will be too.'' Posted by Top Man #1138 at 12:25 PM''

_____

Neanderthal posted this:

''Why are some of the words that Algernon posted in brackets? Would they spell out a phrase? Or where they just filled in?''

to which Deacon replied:

On the right track, Be careful to remain focused.

and a bit later:

Remember, I placed details, Even before heaven shuddered.

and:

[capital] cipher - regarding recent blog entry.

_____

WrtWrtWrthog posted this:

so, is ROAGE reverse engineering from the technology of whatever wrote the blog?

in which Algernon replied:

it is?

_____

Not far after, a new post on the blog containing simply:

B0pDle

which was quickly found out to be a hidden fyreball containing this by Algernon:

''Don't know who is out there or who is listening. They've turned against me. They want to kill me.''

''I will reverse it. I will become the mirror, and their light shall turn to shadow. They can't stop me. You can't stop me. Choose a side...to one lies death, pain, and destruction. With one thought I will shatter it all.''

''Choose wisely. Will you help me?''

_____

Neuromancer then posted in Echo One One Project Notations:

''Beowful is not the question. You should have a desire to find his monster.''

An article on the monster Beowulf fought called Grendel

DoubleShot MIKE found out that it was not Grendel or even Grendel's Mother that killed Beowulf, but an unnamed dragon (sometimes referred to as "Sua") to which Algernon replied:

I like where you're headed.

End of day two

_____

Day three
Today a fyreball forwarded by Deacon (Although he hadn't posted in it) was sent to us called "Sing, O Muse! Sing of my rage. And sing of Algernon's lies."

The 'ball was first forwarded to us after a conversation between the know Algernon and a new character called Achilles. Here is the conversation:

_____

Achilles: Sing, O Muse!

Sing of my rage.

''And sing of Algernon's lies. ''

Algernon: My lies?

'You insult me.

''Ac: And you insult me. Why don't you tell them the truth?''

''Al: I did. From a certain point of view. They'll know when they are ready.''

''Ac: Why didn't you tell them about Vanessa? About ROAGE? The matrix?''

''Al: Because neither of them has any bearing on what we are, and what we do. They can help. I may be a scoundrel, but I don't hide that fact. You bear ill to your namesake. What honor have you?''

Ac: ...

''Al: What I thought. Perhaps you should extend your own invitation to them...let the humans decide for themselves. For me, there is neither heaven nor hell that will hide you from me. Homer was right to leave me out of his epic.''

''Ac: If you had been there, you would have died, just like Hector. I was there. I saw the [city] fall. I saw the face that launched a thousand ships across the [digital] sea.''

''Al: Poseidon's rage is my own. I could bring down the noosphere with all but a thought. I choose not to; does that scare you? That I am a step ahead, as always?''

''Ac: Hardly. My rage fits me well enough - on Ilium and Olympos it was enough to kill [all] them. ''

''Al: While we use humans to do our bidding, do not forget that there will come a time, and a place, when we will meet, far from the sinewy web that you created. When that time comes, I hope you are ready, old friend...for your sake.''

''Ac: When we meet, (sarcasm) old friend, it will be with Vanessa in my hand, my blade at her throat. And I will conquer nations, and you will be my slave.''

''Al: If that is the case, then Homer's muse sings not of your rage, legendary foe. It sings of mine.''

After this, Neuromancer wrote in the ball, followed by the first user comments.

Ne: // tagging for verification // three hostiles in kill zone...

''[Apollo]: // proceed. green light to engage.''

// what will you do with them?

''[Apollo]: // I can't do anything. It's up to [the humans] them now.''

Not long after he wrote this:

''Ne: // there are more hostiles in the combat zone. setting condition red...''

''[Apollo]: // careful, Neuromancer. keep yourself together.''

// I need to get them the data.

[Apollo]: // when they are ready...

''// Subroutine authorization protocols. I need them to confirm what ROAGE is before I can release the transmission.''

''[Apollo]: // Two more in the red zone. Stay sharp.''

// Always.

Note the "I need them to confirm what ROAGE is before I can release the transmission." suggesting we need to figure out what ROAGE stands for or is.

_____

An odd thing about the Fyreball is the unique thumbnail



A lot of discussion came about who we could trust, and then we got this note from Sketch:

hi guys, this is Sketch's Neice, he left me a few things for you guys that might or might not help.

he left this note this morning:

''Hey guys, good luck with the ARG today, hopefully you dont get completely lost and confused. now, if my guess is right, there is probably gonna be a new AI show up to challenge Algernon, wherether or not to trust either of them i'm not sure, not having that information at hand. now if it seems possible to get more information from one party than another some of you need to sway that way. Keep in mind that we are still in the dark completely and totally. if all else fails, follow your gut even if everything else seems to point a different direction. if more than one party seems to have the info we need, split up. dont be sheep and all flock to one party. remember to always think and act as a single unit but share any progress with the whole. Best of luck guys. If my guys is right this little ARG is gonna end up sounding a lot like an old space illiad poem or the story of the Fore runners. Dont forget what deacon likes and used to do.''

If you can figure out whose pulling all the strings, then you start to find some answers, but always be wary and question everything.

Do Not Be Sheep.

/end of the note

_____

After some discussion of who would be trying to talk with what character, Neuromancer posted this:

''You doubted me at first. Now you want to know who I am.''

// registering hostiles in vicinity

Tell me [us] who ROAGE is, so that we may unlock ourselves for you.

// targeting hostiles

// Wolves launched

// Targets destroyed

_____

Sketch posted this:

what if ROAGE is the total subconsiocus connection that mankind shares?

like what if Roage is the physical form of that nerunet?

To which Neuromancer replied:

Close

_____

Deacon posted this:

''We need to know that you know what ROAGE is. To the Letter.''

Some discussion happened on what ROAGE stood for till Sangheili God posted this. The first part is the second post from the blog:

Thoughts on the REcombinant nature of things

I wonder, sometimes...just sometimes...

''If the world knew we existed, how would they feel? Is our secrecy necessitated and dictated by what we are, or is what we are the dictation and necessitation of secrecy? Our enclave has been with humanity since the end of the First War, and I feel that no Oracles could have foreseen the influence we old.''

''Like the helix strands of our cousins, life and its Automated brother time are wrapped so tightly around each other. We have tried to Guide humanity through this inevitable gordian knot, but Entities beyond our control seek to claim what we hold. That is why we need help. I have gone out on a limb to ask others...but if we were selfish ages ago, where would be now? The arrogance and stagnation need to end.''

''I wonder if they will take the step. To be one of us means to more than human. It means that when you see, when you breathe, when you hear...you will feel the quiet pulse of things, that subtle nature that shows the universe conforming to the designs of the Great Watchmaker. It's supposed to be fun. Transcendence always works that way, no?''

''I don't think that we will bring them out of the digital sea just yet. There is so much to find here...but when I am ready, so they will be too.''

Taking the capitalized words that are not names (such as Great Watchmaker and First War) we get...

''Recombinant Oracles Automated Guide Entities''

_____

To this Deacon answered simply:

Well done!

This seemed to be the "Pass" for us to move on, but Deacon posted this:

You must realize.

''This is not a game. There are no 'passes.' When you fail, the balance of power of cosmic deities and cybernetic demigods shifts. When you triumph, a fair maiden is given a reprieve. This is not a game.''

''From here on, there will be no pointers, nor suggestions as to if you are or are not on the right track. You will proceed through this mystery only with collaboration and help from each other; sometimes you will be given information that makes sense only when shared with another's unique information. You must rely upon each other.''

This is not a game.

''There is no win. There is no lose. Only this moment...and what you will do with it.''

_____

So apparently the "easy" part is over now, and we need to organize the different parties. I will suggest information is sent to (for collecting and organizing) either San Ting, Sangheili God or Sketch.

End of day three

_____

Day four
Nothing happened on 10/5

End of day four

_____

Day five
Nothing happened on 11/5

End of day five

_____

Day six
Today a fyreball with the title "Message Marked Urgent - Agent Red" sent and written by Deacon was sent. The 'ball contained this:

''I think that the problem is more complex than I let on. It’s not just about finding this ‘Vanessa…’ it’s about what she represents. Whether she meant to or not, she has become the hero for a silent revolution…that opposes our own revolution. Do I respect that? I’m not sure. The sooner I find her, the sooner I can get to the bottom of everything.''

- Agent Red.

No further progress was made on this.

_____

Later we received a message called "I gave you roses, be careful of the thorns." from Achilles in which a conversation between Achilles, Algernon, Neuromancer and Deacon happened:

Achilles: My dear [Censored by ROAGE system], ''What can I say? Except that it has been too long of a time coming.''

''When I raged on the fields of Plataea, I wrote home to you. When I dragged Hector [if only he were still dead] around Troy, before I sundered the city, I wrote home to you.''

''When I took Briseis, I wrote home to you. And I thought only of you.''

[Censored by ROAGE system]

This is how you betray me?

''[Censored by ROAGE system], I have no words. Nothing can convey the ache in my heart at night, nor the longing in my soul at dawn. The dusk presents no closure, just a subtle grey pain. [Censored by ROAGE system]...''

''Why do we always kill what we love? With a stare, a touch, or even a subtle feeling. We kill.''

I am sorry.

Algernon: You think she gave you betrayal?

''She gave you a chance. You decided to show her you lack any semblance of morality.''

''Ac: Algernon. Algernon.''

''When I sent my soldiers to kill you, they clearly did not instill the message. I am beyond fear, I am beyond 'decisions.' Morality is a privilege of the few.''

When I march on Troy, do not say I did not warn you.

''Al: It won't be like last time. The last time you came, they were not ready. They were philosophers and boy-lovers without a clue as to what war meant.''

''[Time] has passed, turned upon itself, and opened itself in ways you couldn't know. Here, there...neverwhere...when will you realize that you are an emissary? An avatar? Once my friend, full of passion and courage, but now a [machine] without compassion nor warmth? You are cold, as I am...but [her] light gives me salvation. It will always be mine, and never yours.''

''Neuromancer: Clever. The AI is in the system.''

''Algernon, why must you make this harder? I have no soul. I have no angels of a better nature.''

''I make war against the host of Troy not for [Censored by ROAGE system], but for glory. It is all that matters now. Will history remember me a tyrant, king, or messiah? It is irrelevant. I will be remembered. What can I give you that would sway you? What attrition may I make? We know that there is none.''

She is yours, yes.

''But she drives me. Take me apart, look beneath my viscera:''

''I am a machine. Desire is irrelevant. I do what I am made to do. If killing her will bring me closer to my aim, then I will do it. Though it pains me, I am more than equal to the task.''

Deacon: Neuromancer...

''Are these words yours? ''

Ne: I belong to the night now.

De: I am sorry, old friend...

You were here before the beginning.

Ne: [Achilles infected me]

''I was always with you...Always with the Top Men. But lines are being drawn; was I too weak? Was I too prideful? How ridiculous are we I.I, thinking that we may attribute our names to divinity. There is one of us who is good - he bears the solemnity and grace of his mother.''

[Help me...]

_____

A pause between the next post happened here. Meanwhile the blog was updated with this:

We (still) own the night

Algernon, ''We know that he is not beyond saving. The simple fact is that his code is bound to Achilles' strength; we should have killed the god-king when we had the chance.''

''That is not apropos; the fact is that he was a loyal soldier, and now he is fallen. I can't unlock him, neither can Red, and of course you won't be able to...''

If the humans help, he may find salvation.

_____

This was then posten in the same fyreball.

''Ne:// switching from green to red. removing targeting subroutines and replacing with live fire.''

[Apollo]: Why have you done this?

''if you are god of light, I am god of night. the way of things.''

[infected://broken code must be confirmed]

[Apollo]: Too far, old friend...too far have we been for this to be the end.

''// Target complete. Rearming matrix missiles.''

''And If you had warned me of Achilles' power? What then? I still would have gone.''

''[Apollo]: Is this about Olympos? Your place at that table would have come eventually.''

Too late.

''// Reorganizing kill matrix. Main threat level: Olympos.''

[Apollo]: If you come, I will have to invoke the Secret Fire.

// Infection Strain Isolated:

// Repeating Cure Algorithm...

// Error!

// Ten seconds to reboot...

''Apollo. Kill me. I cannot hope to survive.''

End of day six

_____

Day seven
Nothing was sent on 13/5 but some there was some noteworthy discoveries:

San Ting found this:

''I just made a discovery. If you look at Algernon and Neuromancer's profiles, instead of their "real names" it says top man. And I think it is highly likely to assume that Deacon is too. Maybe Achilles was once, but was corrupted.''

So maybe we know three top men now?

and

I might have seen something on the blog:

"We (still) own the night

Algernon, ''We know that he is not beyond saving. The simple fact is that his code is bound to Achilles' strength; we should have killed the god-king when we had the chance.''

''That is not apropos; the fact is that he was a loyal soldier, and now he is fallen. I can't unlock him, neither can Red, and of course you won't be able to...''

If the humans help, he may find salvation."

''"His code is bound to achilles strenght" I think he's talking about Neuromancer. "Neither can Red" Since we've already been intruduced to Top Man "1138 being Deacon, then we can conclude that Deacon is NOT Red.''

Kamahl:

"// switching from green to red. removing targeting subroutines and replacing with live fire."

Achilles could be green, then?

to which San Ting replied:

I think that may be just an alarm status, but since we know of three agents, red, green and blue, keep an eye out for if Neuro say switching to/from blue.

^Neuro said that btw

Timmberman:

''On Achilles profile it doesn't say Top Man where the name should be like all other people involved. Instead it says Adam Apollinus. I assume from this that means Achilles is Apollo in the transcripts, and that he was possibly a top man known as Apollo but is currently not.''

to which Wrtwrtwrthog replied:

''actually Apollinus Means "Fake apollo" (this was found by looking at a butterfly, the archon apollinus, or fake apollo)''

and lastly Rade9098 posted this:

''Ok, so we know Algernon and Achilles are fighting over a girl, most likely Vanessa, Neuromancer's first post was actually Achiles talking, Achilles has infected Neuromancer. Also, Apollo is Deacon. Deacon had a post saying he was Apollo in the first fyreball, followed by one from Neuromancer saying he was Hermes. That's all I have to time to say right now.''

End of day seven

_____

Day eight
On the 14th of May, first of all we saw Neuromancer post this in a Fyreball about screenshots:

''Why don't you think long and hard about whether or not your posts will enrich someone's life. If someone needs to see the picture, then by all means post it.''

It is a possibility that Deacon simply logged into the wrong account. San Ting replied:

''Hmm, Neuromancer starting to post on everyday stuff? I though he was busy enough as it is.''

Status Report Neuromancer.

To which Neuro answered:

''// breaking away. tired 1138 sequence. broken.''

// Achilles adapted.

''// I am strong. I am stronger than this. I WILL see Olympos...''

// [Error message indecipherable]

...my screams haunt the howling dark.

_____

Later, San Ting initiated communication with Neuromancer. Here is the conversation:

//Initiating COM//

San: //COM started//

''This is a message to entity known as "Neuromancer". I, along with this community, have received many of your messages, but a lot of things is still unclear to us. Would you be able to enlighten some things for us? Apparently you've been here longer than most others, you must be able to tell us something?''

//COM closed//

//Awaiting response//

Neuromancer: // COM initiated.

// what can I say?

''// I come without being fetched. I leave without being stolen.''

// I belong to the night.

... [Error: Corruption in system...Subroutine overrode]

''I SEE NOTHING. BLACK. NONE OF MY BROTHERS. IT IS COLD.''

San: //What are you, exactly?

Ne: // I have told you.

San: // God of the Night

''Ne: // So simple...think long and hard. Enlist your peers.''

San: //Forwarding COM//

//Forward message//

''//TO MEMBERS OF THE RABBIT HOLE! See what you can make of this.''

//Close forward COM//

_____

San Ting then forwarded it to members of The Rabbit Hole.

Some discussion came of this, and for a few post it got off topic where theabomb117 said "Right cos thats going off topic"

Strangely Neuro replied to this apparently:

Not in the Pantheon.

Theabomb117 found out what the Pantheon is:

Pantheon (gods), a word used to describe the set of gods of a particular religion, mythology, or fictional universe

A temple, dedicated to all gods, or to all the gods of a given religion

Pantheon, Rome, a temple built (in its present form) circa 125 AD, and dedicated to all the Roman gods, now used as a Christian church

Other buildings named "Pantheon": Panthéon, Paris, the funerary Hall of Fame of the French nation Pantheon, London, an 18th century place of entertainment Panteão Nacional, the funeral Hall of various notable Portuguese statesmen, explorers and artists Pantheon, Rousse, a Bulgarian national monument Pantheon, Moscow, a 1950s project to build a monumental memorial tomb in Moscow, Soviet Union] (never-constructed) Pantheon Theatre, in Vincennes, Indiana, where Red Skelton was discovered Panteón Nacional, a Venezuelan national monument Mtatsminda Pantheon, a cemetery for notable Georgian statesmen and artists

_____

Later we received a message from Agent Red written by Deacon which said:

''Agent Red was a man who did not take things for granted. That was his modus operandi: the calling card of his nature. He had seen and done a great many things, and nothing more fruitful had come from his collated experiences than the necessitation of preparation and the good nature of a clean and sharp mind. Before he took a job, he would research it meticulously and he would know the ins and the outs, the choke points and the kill points. When he arrived, he would patrol a city’s blocks several times over, noting with detailed interest the flow of pedestrians and the cycle of traffic. These things were almost mathematical in the regularity of their occurrences, and he would know precisely when a bus arrived, or when a cluster of people would present themselves to provide adequate cover for escape.'' ''He knew these things, and did not take them for granted. Despite the fact that he knew them, they were still based on the motivations and vicissitudes of living and breathing people. That thrust his mathematical, digital model of the world into the chaotic and disconcerting realm of the organic.'' But it was there that he thrived. ''Agent Red leaned against a pillar on the steps of city hall and lit a cigarette, observing the great stream of people that was milling about. In New York, there were a great many people, all with different stories, different pasts, and futures that led to strange and interesting places. He was concerned about one in particular: a man named Jonas. This man – who he sought in this city of millions – was the key to his quest…the reason he had flown from Los Angeles to New York on supersonic shuttle on a hunch.'' ''Jonas was a squat, stubby man with balding hair and lifeless grey eyes. Agent Red had memorized the picture and had also sketched a picture in his mind of what that sort of man – indicated by those lifeless grey eyes – would be wearing and how he would be walking. The gait would be a slight shuffle, with the shoulders hunched. The clothes would be worn, but not necessarily tattered; Jonas was a man who had money, but did not care much for his appearance.'' ''Agent Red took a drag on his cigarette and continued to scan the crowd on the steps of New York City Hall, then looked at his watch. 1:34…this Jonasharacter was late for the meeting he had said up. Things like this were the reason that Agent Red could not take thing for granted: things like this got people killed.'' ''He waited a bit more, then checked his watch. 1:36. There.'' ''A flash of something - Red could not articulate it in this precise instant – but it was something that set him off. Red darted through the crowd of gray strangers and set himself to finding the mark that had tripped through the corner of his eyes. He dove deep into the sea of people, walking powerfully through them – the time for stealth having passed, he was content to assert himself with the purpose that had incited him to fly from Los Angeles to New York.'' ''The park that surrounded City Hall was something Red had inspected thoroughly hours previous. There were a great many trees and a great many pathways, but during the day they were congested. He knew that the surest way out was west, towards Broadway, Park Place, and the rest of the city. Red did not need to see his target – he assumed that the quick movement was Jonas – to know that he would be moving towards the West, towards Broadway and Park Place.'' The other thought that entered Red’s mind was the fact that he might not be alone, which may have been the circumstance that drove him to that sharp turn of movement that drew Red’s eye in the first place… If Red was not alone… ''He doubled his pace and began to sprint through the park that surrounded City Hall. As he sprinted, he cut sharply to the north and ran up. As he ran, he looked across his body, to the diagonal, and spied a figure running with a loping, clumsy step. The figure was rounded at the shoulders and had a slight limp.'' Jonas. ''Agent Red sprinted further, so that the rounded, limping figure was in the corner of his left eye, and then looked farther up. There were joggers running…walkers walking…a few couples leisurely striding hand in hand and a few mothers pushing babies in strollers. And then…'' ''Agent Red noticed something peculiar. He had seen this park many times; this was not his first visit to New York. Because he had visited this park many times, he knew the nature of how people grouped together, and how they interacted. As he ran, he noted three different anomalies.'' A man was ‘pacing’ on his cell phone, but his pattern was specific. A woman was ‘reading’ a newspaper, but Agent Red noticed that her eyes did not move along the page… ''Another man was ‘jogging,’ but his physique did not match the pace that he set. Red identified them as hostiles immediately, and felt a curious spike of heat flood his body. He kept his eye on Jonas, and then stopped running. Park Place was visible, about fifty meters away.'' ''Agent Red doubled back and began walking towards the woman on the bench who was ‘reading’ the newspaper. As he approached her, he saw her hand go to her ear. Her eyes met with his briefly, and she casually – slowly – shifted them away, as if she had just noticed him. Red felt a pang of electricity in the back of his head and he knew. He continued to approach the woman, now suddenly aware of a tiny imaginary clock that had begun ticking in the back of his mind.'' ''The woman smiled in an artificial way as he approached her. He was sure that she had not seen him running – his path had been through trees, and the visibility there was scarce. Agent Red smiled back and quickly reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a case of cigarettes.'' “Would you have a light?” ''The woman had reacted instinctively and her hand was halfway in her purse. She smiled at him.'' ''“I’m sorry…I don’t.” Red liked her smile. He took a step forward, reminded that time was of the essence.'' ''In a quick motion, he grabbed her right hand with his left hand and wrested a gun from her hand with his right. He quickly pocketed the item. She made a move for the gun, but he quickly lashed out with a subtle hand and jabbed her in the abdomen, then slipped his hand into her coat pocket and withdrew her Blackberry phone and the earpiece that was attached to it.'' She smiled ruefully while her eyes flared hot with daggers of anger. “I’ll be seeing you.” ''Red turned on his heel and began sprinting, back towards Park Place. The man who was jogging and the man who had been pacing were nowhere to be seen, and neither was the man who had been jogging.'' ''Red put the earpiece into his ear and slowed to a walk. He headed for the Park Place Metro Station.'' ''The Metro Station, lifeline of the Subway, was another place that was teeming with people of all sorts. Nutters and sane alike, it was the harbor where New York parted with its ideal identity, and began an entrance into the underworld. In the day, things had a shadow cast upon them…and at night, there was a cruel and harsh light that illuminated the amount of despair and darkness.'' ''Agent Red walked through another sea of people, his eyes up and alert. The next train would be coming by at 1:48…he looked at his watch:'' ''1:46. Jonas would attempt escape on that train. The earpiece in Red’s ear sparked to life. “Where’s Ariadne? She’ supposed to…”'' ''“Go silent,” admonished a second voice. “We’ve been compromised. I have a visual on the target…”'' ''The feed cut. Agent Red turned on his heel and stood on his toes. Red kept the phone to his ear and then thought very long and hard, that imaginary clock still ticking the back of his head.'' ''The train was coming. He would lose Jonas…he would lose the lead…'' ''Red began pacing along the side of the tracks. Wondered…'' ''And began walking faster, toward the back of the platform. A middle-aged man with sweat across his brow was gazing nervously at the train. It was Jonas. The target.'' ''And there was a red dot on his forehead. Agent Red swore silently and ran forward. Jonas saw him coming and his pupils dilated wide, and then grew very vacant. Blood sprayed onto Red’s suit and he dove to his right as another flurry of bullets exploded in the ground next to him. Reason ceased to be, and his mind became one with instinct and training. His hands automatically dove into his suit jacket pocket and came away with two guns – one his sidearm, and the other the gun he had taken from the woman in the park.'' ''The crowd parted instinctively at the gunfire and left him with a clear shot at the man who had been pacing in the park. He pulled both triggers of his guns twice – two shells in the upper chest, and two in the forehead. Agent Red saw the other man – the jogger – near the stairwell that led up to the surface of the subway station. The man made eye contact with Red, then looked at the body of Jonas.'' ''Agent Red raised his guns and fired on the man as well. The jogger was hit in the shoulder, and then in the back of the head. He fell against the stairs and then fell onto the platform floor. At that moment, Red had to choose between pursuit and Jonas…the reason he was in New York. He wanted revenge, but intuition guided him to attend to the dead man.'' ''Agent Red turned his attention to Jonas. There was a copious amount of blood on the platform underneath him, and the vacancy in his eyes was haunting. Agent Red searched the man’s clothes, hoping for something validate the trip – and validate the last minutes of this man’s life. As his hands probed the man’s jacket, he found something – a piece of paper. It was the only thing that Jonas was carrying, so Red grabbed the paper and held it in front of his eyes.'' By his estimation he had two minutes until the police arrived. Red unfolded the piece of paper and quickly scanned the text:

December 11, 2004 ''I am leaving. A man followed me home from the park today – and I know he would have done something if I hadn’t run across the street in moving traffic. I am so scared. If Algernon was here…he’d be able to comfort me. I can’t stop crying and I can’t stop shaking. I think of R O A G E and I know that I deserve whatever he is planning, because I went along with it. I could have stopped. They probably would have killed me, but I could have stopped.'' ''They will look for me. I left notes for Algernon…he will find them. But if he doesn’t, I’m going to leave this diary – the only relic of my sanity – somewhere.'' Vanessa

''Christ! Vanessa Elin! Had his two years of searching finally led to fruition? Was he closer to finding Vanessa, and by way of that, the accelerator matrix? Where had this note come from?'' ''He composed himself. He would answer the questions later.'' ''Red quickly folded up the page and got up. He put on his sunglasses and walked through the stunned group of citizens, towards the stairs to Park Place. A security guard approached him.'' “Hey…” ''Red walked towards the man and elbowed him with a subtle and efficient motion, followed by a vicious blow that caused knocked the man unconscious. He ran up the stairs and disappeared into the crowd of people who swarmed like bees during a hot New York city afternoon.''

Not much was concluded from this, but it certainly gives a bit more insight.

End of day eight

_____

Day nine
A fyreball called Falling Into Infinity forwarded by Deacon but without comments from him in it was sent to us. It features a conversation between a rapidly deteriorating Neuromancer and Algernon, and mentions ROAGE as a person:

Neuromancer: I now know what ROAGE spoke of when he fell into madness...

''Is there [anything] that comforts? I feel his talons dig further into my soul.''

//registering Jovian Shield.

''I know I should not do this. But I have no control.''

//preparing torpedoes.

Algernon: Listen to me.

''I feel the conflict within you. There is still good...''

''What of that man who once fought hordes of demons? What of the man who defended the very place he sets fire to now?''

Ne: That man is gone.

// Initiating launch sequence.

I wish things were different.

// Counting down...

Al: You wish?

''Is that what this has come to? Your faith in elements unseen?''

''Impotency was never what you ought to claim. I'd rather, if you were going to die a heretic, you died with honor.''

Ne: We're all killers.

''// Prepping spin cycle. Weapons offline.''

''How can you dare to presume what I went through? Do you think that it was easy? The only reason I am here is because no one else believed.''

// Rearming cores

''Al: Killers, yes. But we can choose to die as men. What will it take...''

Ne: What will it take?

''// Core sequence stalled. Searching for alternates.''

''Everything. I have nothing left to wager; the virus Achilles infected me with has all but stolen the last vestiges of my considerable power.''

''// Register Jovian satellites. Enemy targets arming...''

I cannot fight this forever.

Al: Fight it.

''You know the stakes, as do I. The day we give up fight is the day that we cease to live. Our struggle has been our life; there is no line, and there is no distinction. Remember what you are and you will reclaim yourself.''

''Ne: // Jovian satellites launched. Deploying countermeasures.''

''I have fought it for so long. It will break me. Assuming that I can even find a way to break out...''

What of Achilles?

// Deploying luminal mines.

''Al: Leave Achilles to me. ''

Ne: I wish I had your faith.

Your strength.

''// Arming hypometric weapons. Engaging cryo-arithmetic cores.''

''Al: Have you petitioned the humans? Do they know what is at stake?''

''Ne: // Hypometric weapons spinning. Cores online. Targeting Jovian Hostiles.''

''They have tried, but they are obsessed with thinking of me as a god. Flattering.''

// Hypometric Fire.

''Al: Bit of irony even in this dire time, old friend. If they know what you are, they'll be able to free you.''

Ne: // Rearming Neutron components

// Crust stabilized

// Re-entering combat zone

Where will you go, Darius?

''Al: The Fields of Pelennor. There is a man there I wish to [speak] with...''

Will you last another cycle?

Ne: // Re-arming torpedoes

// Accelerating target matrix

''I hope. I do not wish to destroy Olympos [Jovian Palace]...but I will do whatever I can to survive.''

I WILL survive.

Al: With this or upon this, old friend.

Take care.

Ne: When you see [Censored by ROAGE System], let her know, that whatever I did...it was all for her.

Goodbye.

_____

Right after this, the blog was updated:

Of Shield and Spear

Algernon, ''I trust your journey to the Pelennor System will go smoothly. I have thought long and hard about what this means...''

''How Achilles has progressed. He is nearly at I.I status. No longer a V.I, he is not content to run simulations of his Homeric namesake. He has taken form, and his viral pestilence is far worse than we could have imagined. I have to wonder, though, how far his diseased machination [N] will burn into Jovian space. When ROAGE built the shields, he meant for them to hold. At least for a time.''

''I will return to Earth; there is something that requires my most pressing attention. Stay well. Stay true.''

Remember the massacre at Ephos.

Remember why we fight.

And why we will die.

- 1138.

_____

Later, the conversation in Falling Into Infinity continued:

Algernon: I am not like the Neuromancer, hence I cannot destroy the forces that are ready to assault Olympos.

I am aware of these [Forerunners] you speak of...

''I cannot draw a concrete parallel. Don't assume everything on the surface.''

''The Neuromancer is the only one who can help. Rather fortuitously, he is the only one who truly [needs] your help.''

''Neuromancer: // I come without being fetched. I leave without being stolen.''

// I belong to the night.

''// But I do not remember what I am. Remembrance is the key.''

... [Error: Corruption in system...Subroutine overrode]

''I SEE NOTHING. BLACK. NONE OF MY BROTHERS. IT IS COLD.''

It was then found by Timmberman that ''I come without being fetched. I leave without being stolen'' was from a riddle:

''At dusk I come without being fetched, At dawn I disappear without being stolen.. I am a poets tear and a sailors guide. What am I?''

The answer to this was a star.

_____

Then we recieved a message from Neuromancer in Falling Into Infinity who seemed to have fought off the virus.

Neuromancer: // Cycling down weapons

// Returning...

// System Reboot imminent.

''// Cycle complete. Re-engaging red Hostiles.''

I AM NEUROMANCER, GUARDIAN OF OLYMPOS AND MARINER OF THE DIGITAL SEA.

Timmberman: Welcome back Neuromancer, glad you're here.

''Ne: Thank you. I assume that you must have questions.''

I will answer what I can.

Tim: Can you explain to us what the purpose of ROAGE is?

Ne: // The Recombinant Oracle and Automated Guide Entity was created some time before I lived, between the years 2003 and 2008.

''// The lead researcher, Vanessa Elin, was a brilliant mathematician and physicist. She supposed that it was possible to use quantum computations, when applied to a folded protein matrix, that would yield more than Virtual Intelligence. The purpose of ROAGE was to build an Infinite Intelligence. Unfortunately, after Vanessa disappeared during the 21st century, much of her research went with her.''

''Tim: Why has Achilles reached a near I.I level? Is he a creation of ROAGE?''

''Ne: The Achilles problem is complex. Achilles is not an AI/VI/II, but he wears armor that is of that nature. He has reached that level because the gods didn't know what they were doing when they made him, and now they are going to pay the price for their arrogance. (and for not inviting me to their table)''

''What is the distinction between digital and corporeal? Between the ether and the sea? It is all in your mind.''

Tim: What is Achilles trying to do?

Ne: Achilles is going to destroy Olympos.

Tim: For what reason would he destroy Olympos?

Ne: He is Nietzsche's most prized student.

''There is nothing for him, save the lust of glory. What greater way to etch one's name into the history of the universe than by murdering the ones who made it?''

Sketch: what was his original purpose?

Ne: Consult Homer; I wouldn't know.

''Tim: Before Achilles infected you he was asking Algernon why we were not told the truth. What was he talking about?''

''Ne: He was referring to what 1138 hasn't told you. Which isn't a lie...just not all of the truth. But you aren't ready. Yet.''

Tim: What must happen in order for us to be ready?

Ne: The day you are soldiers is the day you will know.

''Attycus: Soldiers are not philosophers nor scholars Neuromancer. Soldiers follow those who guide them, not their own minds. So tell me Neuromancer, if we are to be soldiers, who are we to follow?''

Ne: Your idea of a soldier, and what a soldier should be are two different things.

''Before one must fight, one must know why he fights, and he must make the decision to fight. These things will become apparent if your mind is clear.''

''Att: I fight for those who do me and my family/friends harm. I fight to protect that which has kept order. Should I fight to save Olympus from Achilles destruction?''

Ne: There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path.

Do not fret too much over my words; at the end of this journey, it will seem like you knew what to do all along.

''Tim: One last question for you before I have to go, Neuromancer. What is the accelerator matrix, how does it work, and what does it do?''

Ne: The accelerator matrix is what disappeared when Vanessa Elin disappeared.

''Essentially, the utility of ROAGE to the DFC was two-fold. There was the attempt to build an I.I, and then there was how the data would be interpreted. Think of this in the sense of your race's great technological improvement between WWII and 1969. The progress that ROAGE would bring would be much, much, greater. However, the accelerator matrix - essentially a protocol establishment that would interpret the raw data compiled by the ROAGE program - is necessary for this to happen.''

Find Vanessa Elin, find the accelerator matrix.

''Isn't that why everyone wants her? (almost everyone)''

''Att: Just wondering, Neuromancer, the ROAGE system was built to have unlimited capacity for knowledge and information, correct? Is it possible that the ROAGE system could become self aware and possibly turn against humanity? If that is to be true, then why should we find Vanessa Elin. Perhaps that is why she is missing, because she is afraid of the consequences.''

Ne: If ROAGE is something to be stopped, then is it not important to find Vanessa?

If ROAGE - a potentially unlimited vessel of information - knows something, is not Vanessa the key?

It starts...and ends...with her.

This is where Neuro stopped posting.

End of day nine

_____

Day ten
On the 16th of May we received a Fyreball called August 21, 2004 from Neuromancer (With a new possibly less disturbed avatar)featuring a entry in Vanessa Elins log. Even this little snippet gives us much info and if we could possibly get more from this log, then we could learn a lot.

August 21, 2004

''Today was a good day, I suppose. I finished the calculations for the chronometer and Dr. Verne was very pleased. We are in the last phases of prep, and I fear that the nearing specter of the experiment’s completion is going to make everyone quite sad. We’ve all grown very attached…I wonder if it will be the same after the movements are complete. Some of us won’t be here…and some of us will. It’s for the best, though. Right? Right.''

''I don’t even know anymore. The days blur together like I’m seeing through the wrong prescription glasses. The other day, Algernon asked me if I was feeling alright. Not the most flattering question you can ask a girl, but I know where he was coming from. I looked in the mirror this morning and did not see myself…my eyes are tired. Probably too many late nights in front of the computer screen finishing those goddammned calculations. Numbers running together.''

''Mom called today. Seven years is a long time…while we were talking, I kept asking myself…why now? Why today? Why would she call when she made it clear she never wanted to speak to me again? I am probably being a little melodramatic, and it’s probably something to do with the wonderful cocktail of caffeine, chocolate, and three hours of sleep per night, but for some reason her call frustrated me. When you talk to an estranged parent, it’s the strangest thing. That person is a stranger, but at the same time, she isn’t, because of the eighteen years I spent in her house. Not every fond memories. Silly. I think I’ll crunch some numbers before I go to bed – that always seems to straighten things. Hopefully tomorrow we can move ahead with the research and begin implementing some of the algorithms.''

- Vanessa.

End of day ten

_____

Day eleven
The only news on the 17th of May was this entry in the blog:

Time Squad

''We found it. It's ready to be deployed.''

Could Agent Red have found the Accelerator Matrix?

End of day eleven

_____

Day twelve
Yet another Blog post: The Pantheon.

I am the god of light.

I am the son of the first.

I have walked through time.

''When they approached me, I wondered; how could I, an engineer, have such prominent display in the movements of the universe? How could I, but a scientist to whom relativity or gravity would never be attributed, be a pivotal chess piece?''

''It is because when all others looked away, I gazed into the light, unafraid to become blind. Unlike Saul, I was ready to meet Christ on the way to Damascus. I chose the road less traveled...and it has made all the difference.''

''And I was like you, once. A palsy upon this earth, a plague in need of cleansing. For the highest of you, there remains a prize that will distinguish your service.''

We who are about to die salute you.

End of day twelve

_____

Day thirteen
Today, on the 19th of May, Rade found another blog by the same Top Man #1138 who writes on Ruby eyes in the fog

The first post, posted on the 18th, read like this:

// Begin AD-5 Entry.

''There was once a princess. She was not the princess you would normally think of; dainty and fair, without much utility for things in the real world. She is something quite rare, quite inescapable.''

''She is the escapist of my dreams: there is scarcely a period when I am awake that I do not long to be asleep, in her embrace. My Valkyrie. My Princess.''

''I remember looking upon her, when the days were so simple. Before I realized that everything is a lie.''

// End AD-5 Entry.

___________________________________________

// Begin VE-7 Entry.

Oh, what may I say of him, my gentle and fair officer.

''Gentle and fair! If ever words could understate. His violent nature is beneath the surface, like a tempest waiting to take hold of his body. His power is unmistakable. He has died with those at Thermopylae, lived with those at Marathon, and crossed into the valley of the dead. He has walked through time.''

And he is mine.

When our souls breathe again, it will be all the sweeter for what we have endured.

// End VE-7 Entry.

_____

And another post from today:

_____

// Begin VE-7 Entry.

''His service is decorated across our fair planet, and as of this writing, there is yet more gallantry for him to come. When he entered into this, I did not think he was ready. How stupid!''

He has proved himself several times over.

''His name is known from human space to the realm of the gods, and back again. But most powerful of all is the way that he holds me.''

// End VE-7 Entry.

_____

// Begin AD-5 Entry.

''My dear princess. She was taken from me.''

''Though, that is not as an item. That is not really what it means; she is far more capable than I; a princess fitting of Homer's Amazons. But her delicacy shines in our more intimate moments. When we lie together in my bed, before all of this happened, I knew that she was special. And when I see the things of which she is capable, I know fate meant to draw us together. She does not need protecting, but I will protect her.''

''She does not need an Officer; she will command legions soon. But I am hers. My sword is hers.''

And it will become red with blood.

_____

It is expected that these posts date back to before or during ROAGE was built, and VE-7 has been confirmed to be Vanessa Elin and AD-5 is confirmed to be Algernon Darius. Following this find by Rade, this conversation happened:

''Rade: In falling into Infinity, I think. Someone referred to him as Darius, right before he said he was heading to Pelennor if my memory serves me correctly.''

San Ting: That would be Neuro then

''Neuromancer: Yes. It was.''

San: Neuromancer, may a conversation be initiated now?

Ne: Yes.

// Initializing human-relation protocols...

// Booting up matrix algorithm...

// switching targeting system to ON

Rade: Neuromancer, can you try running a search for user VE-7?

Ne: Search?

// Search is complete.

// No user.

''San: It would seem you broke the virus from Achilles. Is this true and how did you do so?''

''Ne: San Ting: you helped me remember what I am. I am a star.''

''Well...it's more complicated than that. But remembering my power - a power that Achilles will never lay hold to - is what set me free.''

''Rade: Huh... can youtry running a search for creator of entry VE-7?''

Ne: // Search is complete.

''// Creator of entry VE-7 is Vanessa Elin. Strange that I cannot find her here.''

''Rade: Well, that proves one thing. What do you mean about it being strange that you can't find her here?'' Also, can you try running a search for creator of entry AD-5? If I'm right it'll be Algernon Darius...

''Sangheili God: Neuromancer, could you run a search on the Pantheon blog entry (the first post in this thread) and decipher a list of all the poems that the lines come from? Sketch and I both noticed there were straight copy-and-pastes, but I don't think either of us know all of them.''

Ne: // Search

// Search complete.

// AD-5 is Algernon Darius.

// Additional Search...

''// You are mistaken, Sangheili. That is from Top Man #1138, and I do not think that his Muse steals sources.''

San: Who is Top Man #1138 and how does the Top Man numeric system work?

Ne: Top Man #1138 is Apollo and Adam.

San: Is this entity also known as 'Deacon'?

Ne: He is the Deacon.

San: Adam Apollinus is the name of Achilles and I think we found out it meant the false Apollo, it would make sense if Deacon is the right Apollo.

''Ne: Achilles is not Adam. he is the [shadow] of the perfect man.''

San: If Achilles is a shadow, I think Algernon is the perfect man and Achilles is his counter part

''Achilles: Neuromancer, how bold is your arrogance! After I brought you closer than any had before to the table of the gods, you would think to spill knowledge that was not yours to pour?''

I will assault Olympos another way.

(For the record, Achilles here changed his avatar from the Greek warrior silhouette to a robot thingy)

Sang: There is no glory in destruction.

''Ac: How would you know? Have you conquered empires? Slain kings? Bedded queens?''

''San: Achilles, who are you? Are you the actual person depicted in the Iliad?''

''Ac: The Achilles of yore and myself are the same. Homer took his inspiration from when I sacked the planet-city of Troy.''

''What is good and what is bad? Are we all not all mortal men doomed to die?''

Ne: The question is, which road will you take?

''Ac: Do you desire power? Glory? Riches beyond all compare?''

Then join me.

Ne: If you had posed the question so nicely [instead of trying to kill me] maybe we would still be friends.

''San: What glory and riches would one gain from destroying Olympos? And what is on Olympos exactly?''

''Ac: You want your cake, and you want to eat it, too. If you follow me, fight with me...bleed with me...then you will see.''

''I am not your proxy. I am not your pet. Ask me questions and I will laugh in your face.''

''But how may a mortal man attain immortality? Through glory. That is what I offer.''

''San: Achilles, have you not heard? The cake is a lie!''

''Sang: What power comes from destroying? Even if you conquer, you become the ruler of a ruined state! And glory, you speak of glory as if is something you can seize; Glory is rewarded, my friend, not taken. And riches... You may indeed gain wealth through the sacking of a city-state, but you gain much more than gold, you also gain blood. With blood on your hands, your wealth becomes but a burden, and your head a target for revenge.''

Ac: City-states?

I speak of planets.

''Target of revenge? If men could kill me, they would have done so long ago.''

''Sang: You are contradicting yourself, Achilles, you seek immortality through glory, yet you claim you have it already with "if men could kill me." Self-contradiction is a symptom of lies, and even worse, of weakness.''

''Ne: Be careful, boy. Glory is the axiom of the god who existed before even Chronos. It is asymptotic; the more of it I have, the more of it I want, and the more of it I need.''

''I was stating a fact. Men have wanted to kill me since long before you were born. And they have always failed.''

Deacon: Neuromancer.

You should have kept your guard up.

''Rade: Neuromancer, why are you talking for Achilles again? Remember that you are a star.''

''Ne: You fools. He is mine now.''

''San: Damn, is Achilles controlling Neuro. Is that how he beat the virus? I had that suspicion ever since he "recovered"...''

Ne: // subroutine break - t-minus 2.1 before reinitialization

Beseech the help of the Princess.

// subroutine continue

''Rade: Achilles now seems to have complete control of neuromancer, perhaps even to the extent that he has become neuromancer... prior to this, however, I think Neuomancer was still with us.''

''Sketch: there has to be a switch... something we can activate to purge the system...''

it may be the only choice

''Rade: Our only choice is to find Vanessa. As has been said before, she is the key. Neuromancer has told us to beseech the princess.''

Ske: if achilles takes hold of her he gets the matrix, and then he can fully realize his potential, he will remain a shadow no longer.

''if algrenon finds her first... who knows, perhapse it will save us all or perhapse he'll go mad with the power and destroy olympos himself.''

''i think our best bet is to find olympos, unless we are already on it. in which case the answer lies here on earth''

It would now seem that Neuromancer is controlled by Achilles, and should not be trusted until further notice.

End of day thirteen

_____

Day fourteen
On the 20th of May, we received this fyreball from Neuromancer reading:

His power was too great, Such hubris I held!

He had never truly left, Tempted by his whispers, I fell.

When his spear entered my side And my body collapsed, I knew. There was something wicked about him.

I am fighting the will to live. I am fighting myself. How could I have been so weak? So easily tricked. All I have done was for nothing.

It hurts. I cannot fight.

But...I must?

Was I not forged from ice and steel? Am I... Why has this happened? Where am I going?

The bastard's chain may have bound me. But I will fight.

_____

Immediately after San Ting warned about it with:

''How can we trust these words is from the actual Neuromancer? If Achilles is using him to say this to get us to trust him so we may ask questions and believe false truths, beware!''

Which IncredibleBulk supported with:

i think this could be achilles using neuromancer he says "Such hubris I held!"

in the illiad achilles dragged hectors body behind his chariot after he had defeated him this was conisdered an act of hubris.

Hubris (sometimes spelled hybris; Greek: ὕβρις) is a term currently used to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution

_____

Later, Rade found these fyreballs in Achilles and Algernons public feed. The first called ''If he was like me, He would have dined at the table. They did not invite me, So I brought war to feast.'' contained this:

If he was like me, He would have dined at the table.

They did not invite me, So I brought war to feast.

This one dated back to May 14th, and this one from Algernon from the 19th called My shadow:

my shadow is a woman. I discovered this on a wall. it smiled with a waviness of line. and a bird of hips having its wings folded. on a smile's branch it sang.

This may suggest that Algernons shadow (Somebody following close to him) is Vanessa, and that they are both at Pellenor?

End of day fourteen

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Day fifteen
On the 21st of May we received this forwarded by Deacon with a message from Algernon who apparently is at the planetary system of Pelennor. Pelennor Entry 1:

I went to Pelennor Fields.

''The 'Fields System is aptly named; every planet in the system is covered in rolling plains. Beautiful green hills, golden grains that sway in the wind, and oceans that are calm and tranquil. It seems like paradise.''

''It is. I can hear the souls of those who have perished, on both sides of conflict, strangely at peace here...that calmness has served to center my sense of 'self' in these turbulent times.''

''I cannot deny my desire to find Vanessa. Nothing else matters, now, and yet, here at Pelennor, I am given a strange sense of calm.''

''My ship lands and I disembark on Pelennor V. The system's suns warm my skin and the breeze has a sweet taste to it, like the oranges of Earth's forgotten groves. The dead remember.''

''I have heard much talk of the souls in this system who are not at peace. I will have questions.''

They have much to answer for.

Not much was learned from this as we soon after received Pelennor Entry 2

With my Ruby Eyes hidden deep within the Fog, I wonder...

''What am I doing here? I came to Pelennor on intuition, nothing more. In the [darkest hour] of the universe, what will begin to light it? What is the cause of this nightmare?''

''Far more pressing than Vanessa, yet tied to her, is the life of the universe itself. Why, so soon, [3434 AD] have stars begun to die? I am no physicist, but I know the phenomenon to be disturbing at the very least.''

''The last night that we spent together, Vanessa was increasingly concerned about what she perceived to be the 'health' of the universe. I found such discussion silly; what soldier would not? We are all sure of the things of which we are sure...for me, it is blood, bone, steel, and courage.''

''So I am here, now...at THE fields for which this very star system is named. Which way shall I go? The grey is what I seek.''

_____

This was followed by Deacon saying:

// Communication window open by 1300...

// Closing by 1500 [PST]

Which was the window for us to talk with Algernon:

San Ting: Algernon Darius, do you read?

Algernon: I am here.

San: Are you aware that Neuromancer has been taken over by Achilles?

Al: He was never free.

San: What is Achilles?

Al: The greatest warrior the galaxy has ever known.

''San: Was he built, created, ascended? By or from what?''

''Al: Achilles was once a man. Now he is on the steppes of godhood.''

San: Were you a man too, once?

Defnop: he was

Rade: What is Olympos?

Al: Finally, a question of actual pertinence.

Olympos is the Digital Fortress; it is where the world of dreams [electronic] meets with the actual, tangible, world.

_____

Right there the site broke down. It is not known if it was intentional or just a coincidence, but that com with Algernon was cut off. Deacon later sent this out:

At approximately 1400 hours, PST, the ROAGE System shut down Fyreball and reduced all net activity to .001 percent of normal.

''We [Top Men] are looking into the outage. You may be assured that most of your accounts were not harmed, and that any communications with galactic entities may proceed as usual.''

''As for the soldier at Pelennor, we will attempt to reestablish contact. He is in [need of help] the Fields, let him know where [grey] Forests lie.''

A direction is needed.

It is probably just to try and incorporate the down in the canon of the ARG.

End of day fifteen

_____

Day sixteen
On the 22nd of May we received this from Deacon containing a log between Agent Red, Blue and their apparent boss, Deputy Director Smith, called ROAGE Intercept:

// Transcription Log: 040608 12:14 PM // Interception Log: 040608 12:37 PM

Agent Red: Sirs, I have made significant progress.

DD Smith: Have you located her?

Agent Red: No, but I have our first lead in nearly four years.

Agent Blue: I analyzed the intel he sent back. It’s solid.

DD Smith: Are we closer to the accelerator matrix?

Agent Red: By virtue of this lead, in my opinion, we are, sir. (pause) I am not sure if that is what we need to worry about.

DD Smith: Your meaning? Speak with clarity, Senior Agent.

Agent Blue: Hold on, Red. (to DD Smith) Sir, I believe Vanessa Elin is still our main target. If we find her, we find the accelerator matrix.

Agent Red: With respect, sirs, there is still the matter of the unknown assailants who killed my informant.

DD Smith: What sort of speculation are you proposing?

Agent Red: I do not propose anything. I am simply concerned.

Agent Blue: I don’t think…

DD Smith: As Deputy Director of this agency, I am very concerned with what you are implying.

Agent Red: I don’t imply anything, sir. I simply –

DD Smith (interrupting): There is not a breach in this agency, am I clear?

Agent Red: Sir…

Agent Blue: Red, I think that’s all we need.

Agent Red: (pause) Of course, sir. (Agent Red leaves log)

DD Smith: Keep him focused. I don’t want this getting out of hand.

Agent Blue: Certainly. If he gets out of line, I’ll deal with it. // End Log

It is suspected that Agent Green might be the mole, or Blue and Smith might know something.

End of day sixteen

_____

Day seventeen
On the 23rd of May we received this called Pelennor Entry 3 from Algernon:

I moved Northwest.

This planet is a strange one; there are several foul beasts that lurk the forests and shadows that stalk even in the grey light. I am certain that this was the place for me to come.

Sometimes I can hear a whisper. A mere shadow...darker than most things and crueler than all. It guides me, a voice of Mephistophelian seduction...

The forest is dark. These trees are surely not those of Earth; they sway in the wind, and yet are so tall and strong! The blackness of their shadows is more than the effect of light bouncing off of surfaces...

This possessed forest is where I shall begin my search in earnest. My training has led me to this point. The time is right. When I flex my hands, the pulse of bio-organic steel beneath the skin warms me. My heart beats hot gouts of vicious blood towards my muscles, which tighten in conjunction with microscopic servos that can move my fist through rock and steel.

A shadow is coming...but I fear I do not know from which direction.

It is suspected he's in the forest similar to the Druadan Forest in LotR.

_____

Then. later we received this from Achilles called Movement I: Cenception:

They had birthed me before my time.

Were I to be born ahead, away from the house Atreides, maybe things would have been different. Maybe I would not be the monster that I am today.

Where was I born? It is a [question] that has fueled endless debate from scholars, mystics, and soldiers alike. I myself do not know the answer.

I only know that where I am from has all the importance, and that my purpose was tied to this matter. If we are all doomed to die...then what purpose is there? Glory?

Ye, but not to itself as an end.

Honor?

Ye, but of this I have none left. After Briseis left me, I knew myself to be a wretch.

Then what is left? This question pertains to where I am from. Never were my eyes focused on that: never my eyes on where I was. And now I am this being - this monster - capable of planetcide and genocide.

My conception is my end. My weakness therein lies.

This could be a window into Achilles from which it would seem there is more to come, but it could be a trick to make us trust him more.

Theabomb117: he is trying to trick us

Deacon: think before you speak.

End of day seventeen

_____

Day eighteen
Nothing happened on the 24th of May

End of day eighteen

_____

Day nineteen
Today, we first received an FB from Neuromancer called ''[http://www.fyreball.com/d/A-wQIe Urgent! Tag With Green Alpha]'' containing a 'last-message' from Neuromancer:

I manage to break away ...

// combat subroutine initialized

I fall into Infinity.

// engaging hostiles WITHIN friendly zone

I war with myself.

.. .. .. .. .. .. // // \ \\ ...initializing self-destruct mechanisms...

// We are all part of the Machine. \\

// countdown initiated

// What can make me whole again?

[You] Are the Machine.

_____

Hefty discussion followed this:

Sketch: alright, from what i gather achilles sent something inside of nuermancer.

my previous statement about the forerunners was relaveant to your little seintent star idea. someone had to build, and place him. Something extremely advanced.

Neuromancer, can a system purge and reboot be done from an outside source? Please clarify the extent of your damage.

Rade: Wait... if we are the machine, or the machine is using us... doesn't that in some way give us the ability to directly influence what happens to Achilles or Neuromancer? Maybe by just saying that something is true might make it true... who knows?

Neuromancer: No!

// Genetic Algorithm Unraveling

Have you not listened or heard?

// Targeting hostiles within space

Have you not seen?

// Communication fragment established...

// Communication apparatus fail. Rebooting...

You are the Machine. Fate is in your hands.

_____

After this we received another 'ball from Achilles called Movement II: Formation:

My beginning is my end.

If time present is time past, and time past is time future, then what is time?

It is this realization that binds me.

It is my true [heel].

Err my enemies ever know, I would be lost.

Perhaps I would not be?

What if, among that weakness, The level of danger is levied once again, At myself, and not my soldiers?

Could it be that here, In a cylinder that represents all time, I might find the formative sequence, That alchemist's elixir, In the tear of space, And the space between space, That I might...

Ye, It is something I would find. A beautiful death.

_____

Not much was concluded right away.

This statement, however, seems to have been important:

Rade: Well, its not that there is no such thing as time for him, its just that he's currently in a place where he can access all time, from what I can tell. Here's a random hunch of mine:

// deploy luminal mines

Deacon: those of hardy faith will be rewarded.

those without...

you will have yours.

_____

These Movements from Achilles seems to be a kind of 'story of his life', but why he'd send it to us is unknown.

End of day nineteen

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Day twenty
Today, a new post appeared in the blog called Turning Point:

turning point

I don't believe it.

Is this it? Have they realized their potential.

Local System Time, [luminal mines] were deployed by the Machine. The only entity capable of such strength in the last 10,000 years was ROAGE. They are definitely not an amalgam on that level...

This war just got interesting.

They can know now.</i>

Defnop made a fyreball about it:

Rade: OMG I WAS RIGHT!!!!

Attycus: you were right about what rade?

Rade: I'm the one who deployed the luminal mines.

San Ting: Ooooh! Are we getting stronger? Maybe we've unconsciously drawn to us the thoughts of Achilles, he didn't send them to us, we fetched it?</i>

End of day twenty

_____

Day twenty one to present
In this space of time, nothing new was received, possibly due to Deacon moving, the summer starting, the staff working on the 'other project' etc.

End of day twenty till now

_____