$94-06-88-12-2-0 [soundStopAll] [enableFullScreen] [charaSet A 1098231700 1 Con] [charaSet B 1098231710 1 Con2] [sceneSet C 107300 1] [charaScale C 1.5] [charaDepth C 1] [charaDepth A 2] [pictureFrame cut063_cinema] [scene 107300] [fadein black 1.5] [wait fade] [bgm BGM_EVENT_1 0.1] @ With the third area freed, the Chaldeans thought it best to rest while they could. [k] @ So let's take this opportunity... [k] @ ...to review what we know about this island's key figures. [k] @ This serves no greater purpose, and I have no intention of sharing it with anyone. It is merely a mental exercise. [k] @??? (Besides, it's not as if there's anything better to do right now. Make-work like this is the best way to pass the time.) [k] [messageOff] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 0] [charaFadein A 0.4 0,-50] [wt 1.0] @ [lr]We know these creatures as Con. [k] @ While they do have some...quirks, it remains challenging to differentiate them, and consequently, they are not given individual names. [k] @ Some, though not many, of them do exhibit identifiable individual traits and differences. [k] [messageOff] [charaFadeout A 0.2] [wt 0.2] [se adm59] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadeinFSR B 0.4 256,-50] [charaMoveFSL B -256,-50 2.0] [wt 1.6] [charaFadeout B 0.4] [wt 0.2] [seStop adm59 0.2] [wt 0.9] @ The Con exhibit fairly high intelligence and language comprehension but seem to have significant gaps in their knowledge. [k] @ That being said, it seems safe to assume that almost all the Con understand the current situation. [k] @ From that, we can infer that they are disseminating their knowledge among themselves in some manner. [k] @ We do not yet know, however, whether this is intentional or not. [k] @ If it is unintentional, that would suggest the Con have a kind of collective consciousness. [k] @ I wonder if this is a clue to their true nature as a species... [k] @ ...but let's put that theory aside for now. [k] [messageOff] [charaFadein C 0.4 -60,-200] [wt 0.7] [se adm58] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 0] [charaFadein A 0.4 64,-50] [charaMove A 0,-50 0.7] [wt 0.5] [seStop adm58 0.2] [wt 0.5] [charaFace A 6] [charaMoveReturn A 0,-43 0.4] [cueSe SE_22 22_ade695] [wt 1.0] [charaMove A 0,-50 0.7] [wt 0.3] [charaFadeout A 0.4] [charaFadeout C 0.4] [wt 1.1] @ With regard to personality, they exhibit minute individual differences. Generally speaking, the Con are gentle, curious, and unassuming. [k] @ Their favorite activities are sunbathing and play of all sorts. Their least favorite thing is...being eaten, I assume. [k] @ Not that this sets them apart from any other living thing. [k] @ They are not in any way aggressive, but they are still willing to fight to protect themselves. [k] @ But that, too, could be said of many living things. [k] @ Now, from a physical perspective[line 2] [k] [messageOff] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 0] [charaFadein A 0.4 0,-80] [charaMove A 0,-50 0.5] [charaShake A 0.01 4 0 0.7] [cueSe SE_22 22_ade700] [wt 1.2] @ ...Oh, right. Any Con who is eaten by a water monster will revive if another Con kills that water monster. [k] @ (But I'm not sure whether that Con's own individual identity is preserved, and I cannot see any way of finding out.) [k] @ On an unrelated note, it seems that, at least on this island, new Con manifest spontaneously. [k] @ They seem to simply spring up from the ground. [k] @ Of course, there are countless permutations of Elementals, as they are the planet's sensory organs, so such manifestations aren't entirely unthinkable... [k] @ ...but my instinct tells me these creatures are neither Elementals nor faeries. [k] @ For example, they could be connected to a subterranean plant. Maybe they're even a kind of fungus. [k] [messageOff] [cameraMove 0.7 0,0 1.05] [wt 1.0] [cueSe SE_21 21_ade578 0.3] [charaFace A 1] [charaShake A 0.04 1 1 0.12] [wt 0.7] @ I've spent a fair amount of time interacting with them now, but I'm no closer to an answer. [k] @ I may be able to get there if I were to build a real workshop and employ every ritual and spell I know... [k] @ ...but at the moment, I don't have the drive. [k] @ Doing so would be akin to forcing the answer to a riddle from its teller with Mystic Eyes. [k] [messageOff] [charaFace A 0] [cueSe SE_21 21_ade578 0.2] [charaMoveReturn A -4,-50 0.4] [wt 0.4] [cueSe SE_21 21_ade578 0.2] [charaMoveReturn A -4,-50 0.4] [wt 1.0] @ Finally, let's discuss their physical properties. [k] @ The Con are soft to the touch, but with quite an unusual texture and consistency. They are reminiscent of very springy meat. [k] @ While their movement generally tends toward the slow and unhurried, they demonstrate keen agility where necessary. [k] @ Despite their short, stubby limbs, they are able to capably use all manner of tools. [k] @ Their astonishing capacity for learning new things is another indication that they may operate on a collective consciousness. [k] @ If they are all able to share individually acquired skills, this may manifest as truly extraordinary dexterity. [k] [messageOff] [se ad110 0.3] [se ad77 0.3] [charaFace A 6] [charaMoveReturn A 0,-54 0.4] [wt 0.4] [charaMoveReturn A 0,-54 0.4] [wt 1.0] @ Ahh, this tactile sensation... This weight... [k] @ While I understand that they do exist here, the matter of their actual composition is unclear. [k] @ Elementals, fauna, life-forms, concepts, sentience, species, legends, ideals, thoughts... [k] @ With their ambiguous divisions and constituent elements, I am, for reasons I cannot describe, certain about one thing. [k] @ If I were to ■■■■■■ them...the result would be both terrible and beneficial. [k] @ What does that mean? [k] @??? ...There is no mistaking it, I suppose. [k] @ [lr]From the Con themselves, I sense...a vague ominousness. [k] @ An ominousness which, paradoxically, is free of evil. [k] @??? ... [k] @ [lr]In fact, this whole world gives me a similar sense. [k] @ We are being misled. There is something fundamental here we are overlooking. [k] @ That, at least, is the impression I have. [k] [messageOff] [se ad110 0.3] [se ad77 0.3] [charaFace A 3] [charaMoveReturn A 0,-54 0.4] [wt 0.4] [charaMoveReturn A 0,-54 0.4] [wt 1.0] @ But, at the present moment, petting the Con is more important. Quite frankly... [k] @??? ...Hehe. [k] [messageOff] [bgmStop BGM_EVENT_1 2.0] [charaFace A 1] [wt 1.0] @ [lr]It is a little addictive. [k] [messageOff] [wt 1.0] [fadeout black 2.0] [wait fade] [wt 0.5] [soundStopAll] [end]