TSAB Enforcer-CH01 Report 01 (Chrono Harlaown)

From Radiant Heart MUSH

TSAB Enforcer-CH01 Report 01 (Chrono Harlaown)
Date of Cutscene: 01 September 2023
Location: Korma Chameleon couch
Synopsis: Chrono puts the finishing touches on his report to the TSAB... though who knows if they'll ever get it.
Cast of Characters: Chrono Harlaown

While I do not know if this report will ever make it to TSAB headquarters, I am creating this, and others, in the event that I manage to find a way to send it. I will be prioritizing documentation to ensure the most critical information arrives first.

The most important piece of information for TSAB headquarters: Do. Not. Come. Here. Do not attempt to rescue us. Any attempts to rescue us will likely fail and make our already difficult situation worse. I know there are those who wish to rescue us, but please understand. Our only rescue will come from inside and, if it does, it will likely be one way. This areas is not hostile, but it is dangerous. If we are unable to escape, all of us here knew the risks and are prepared for the sacrifices we must make. So please. Do not sacrifice more TSAB agents in an attempt to rescue us.

Additionally, I know that a lot of this report will sound at best faulty, at worst insane. As such, I have included as much backup material as I can.

I will now begin my report, beginning with the log of the Arthra’s final moments.

*Attached is lower priority detailed log of their final moments before abandoning ship.*

My next report will be on the magic of this world. As this is definitely NOT a magic we are familiar with.

Magic:

The magic of this world seems to operate on a strange system, unlike anything we have ever experienced. First, as opposed to the magic we more commonly used, there appear to be two more variables. I will call them DE and LE, though from what I have gathered DE is commonly called ‘Dark Energy’ and I have, accordingly, termed LE as light energy. I have been unable to see DE in action aside from a single attack from three strange creatures the locals call ‘Youma’. I am only aware of LE because it has thrown off literally EVERY magic calculation I run and I have had to manually alter my programs in order to compensate. Other than this, I have no idea. I’m not a scientist, but with the battle logs I have managed to gain access to even I can tell that there’s SOMETHING strange here that doesn’t exist normally (attached is multiple battle logs that he has managed to retrieve from other devices). For all I know DE and LE are composed of multiple other types of magic and it already is making my head hurt a little trying to measure it. Perhaps in the future I will be able to better explain it, but for now, just know that there is different magic here. The best way I could explain it is that if our magic is a base 10 system, the magic here is base 12. Except 11 and 12 have managed to slide into a random point on the system, can possibly change, and has managed to infiltrate and force its way into the system in a way I had never imagined possible. Additionally, magic here does not work past a certain age. The few linker cores I have managed to scan appear to just deactivate. It’s not that they’re damaged or disabled. They just stop. In many cases, this results in people losing ALL memories of magic. In at least one case (see file on Silvia family) some memories are retained, but it is a struggle. This means that ANY mages sent from out of system could very well lose nearly ALL memories of their home, their lives and even their families. Even when sent from a young age, they will eventually be hit by this effect. I am aware that this means I will likely meet the same fate in a few years. I have made peace with this fact.

Threats:

The threats here are considerable. I only managed a brief scan, but I came across three that seemed to come from a strange place that I was unable to identify. They appeared sentient at first, but were violent and animalistic. Additionally, incredibly dangerous. The wounds inflicted upon me were quite severe. Worse, from what I’ve seen, they were incredibly weak by the standards of this world. Hesitating here can and will get you killed. The threats here are incredibly deadly and varied. They do not appear to make… sense… either. *Attached are procured battle logs from other devices.* Many of the scans make no sense and I am at a loss. Yet, they do not appear to be faulty, so I have no choice but to assume they are real.

Assets:

However, while there are many dangers in this world, they are not without counters. In this case, they are often called ‘Magical boys’ and ‘Magical girls’. They seem to come in many shapes and sizes, with powers that entirely defy all of our prior knowledge of how magic functions. While I have yet to have met any of them, I imagine that will change soon. I am currently being aided by a young one, known as Rashmi Terios. Despite her young age and lack of experience she has already displayed remarkable adaptability. More importantly, she is apparently one of the ‘weaker’ mages. These ‘magical people’ are growing at an astounding, yet frightening, rate. Back at the TSAB I was considered a prodigy, but I have no doubt I will eventually find mages both younger and more talented than I, possibly with more battle experience. Knowing this, I am beginning to wonder if the loss of memories and power after a certain age is some act of mercy in order to protect the minds and lives of these civilians.

Final hypothesis:

Considering all of the information I have gathered, only one thing makes sense. This entire sector is a Lost Logia, one of unparalleled size and power. Why or even HOW it came to be I could not say. But, if I were to guess? I would say it is to contain DE and LE. Escape aided from outside would be impossible, due to the strange shifts of reality that seem to exist here. There are likely others within here as well. In the end, this entire Lost Logia may be a prison designed to contain the greatest dangers to time and space as a whole and I can only hope that whoever created it did it for the right reasons and that it continues to hold.

Current objectives: Locate remaining survivors of the Arthra. Procure a method to evacuate them from the system. Gain a cover to allow easier movement through the civilization. Locate and seal the jewel seeds.

Personal notes:

This place is insane. It makes no logical sense. If these readings are correct then even platoons of our greatest enforcers would be helpless. Does this mean the survivors are in danger? Are they out there now, lost and confused? Is my mother safe? How is any of my training any use if I’m going up against threats I don’t understand?

Most importantly, how much can I ask these civilians to help me? They are already fighting a war they shouldn’t have to. Can I really ask them to help me in what is, effectively, a personal mission? Rescuing the remaining crew shouldn’t be a priority, but I can’t abandon them. I certainly can’t abandon my own mother. But I have no support from the TSAB here. How much can I truly offer them in return for aid when I have no true authority? For now I am trying to remain calm and hide just how strange and alien this situation is from them, but eventually they will likely catch on.

This is the world they’ve always known. It might do them good to never realize just how strange it is across all of time and space.

On the up side, the curry is amazing. In fact, there are so many amazing things here. The food seems to taste better, the colors seem more vibrant, watching the Terios family just fills me with a warmth that I hadn’t felt in years. I feel… calmer. Before I had felt so desperate and anxious, but now I almost feel peace. I’m worried, but it’s… like there’s this… overwhelming belief that everything will be okay. Perhaps another magic I haven’t yet been able to detect?

I’ve since begun helping the Terios family during business hours and learning some of their cooking methods afterwards. It’s not the easiest work, but no harder than what I had done as a fresh recruit. I told them it was to repay them while I was recovering, but that’s not the truth.

The fact is that there is a warmth here. One that gives me energy I can’t explain, despite the effort I am expending. I know my wounds are healing and it will soon be time for me to move on, perhaps to this school. But, strange as it may sound?

I don’t want to go.