powerhungry | SALTBURNT | research group chat.

CONCERNING:

A TALE OF TWO KOBYS, by L. Brary, received by Koby
HOW SILCO ESCAPED, by A. Carrion, received by Silco
THE LITTLE BOOK OF GUARDIANS, by A. Carrion, received by Silco
THE SHEPHERD'S GAME, author unknown, received by Mithra
A MAP, received by Gwen

WHAT WE KNOW:
— There is a centermost point to the house, where Nat found and subsequently attempted to burn the heart. (This led to a weakening of the barrier that typically keeps us from traveling beyond the grounds, allowing us to reach the commune.)
— The house does not want us to leave, and believes we will come to harm if we do.
— There is an outside entity, known as the Watcher. Something is described as having "come through [the breach]" following the events of last month. Presumably, this is the Watcher. It means to take Saltburnt.
— Ashcroft, previously a friend of the Balfours, was the Shepherd, and given power by the Watcher. He assumed this role, it seems, because he was in love with Portia.
— Ani in particular is a person of interest to the Watcher, for having killed Ashcroft.
— "There are others." The Watcher may attempt to use one of us to take Ashcroft's place.
— The Flock, it seems, was comprised of those mistreated by the Balfours.
— The house chose all the guests within it. We are incentivized to work to protect it. ("The ones who guard hardest / I keep in my arm [?]")

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:
— How are L. Brary and A. Carrion related?
— What is the inaccessible area to the east?
— Will ordering from the take-out menus actually have any effect?
— What role do the Balfours play with the house?

I expect the rest of you will have drawn more from the texts as well — I'd like to take the time we have to go over the materials and attempt to plot out a course of action.

[ And then, after a pause: ]

👍🏻

Maybe a couple of us can try ordering from the menus? We might get the same result, but it's worth a shot.

I'd be happy to assist with that, Ms. Gwen! We don't know what will happen, so I'd rather be the one talking, if you can Help me use the phone?

Oh! Definitely. It should be just like any other voice call we make from these phones, but I know outside numbers haven't worked at all... I'm guessing there aren't any landline phones on the property?

Oh, yes, of course.

[a pause.]

Please explain what a landline is?

[ Gwen is gonna send her best attempt at drawing an old-fashioned analog phone, which isn't amazing, but it's passable. ]

Instead of having a touch screen to dial, like on our iPhones, you press the numbers.

I'm wondering if anyone else has received items with numbers to call--addresses are too much to hope for, probably.

[koby is going to screencap that…]

Thank you, Gwen, that’s very helpful. I wasn’t aware that was their name. Do you think there’d be a landline around here? Maybe it’ll work better from there. Though it’d be worth trying from our phones too, of course. We could ask? The more information the better. Though perhaps calling and testing that out first would be wise.

I agree, there is no harm in testing these numbers, first. We can cast the net wider after that.

Dear Group Chat,

A query, before I begin my own assessments: ought we be concerned that "the Voyeur" solicitation recently utilized by many of us be synonymous with "the Watcher"?

Sincerely,
M.N. Antonescu

[t minus how long until she regrets this]

A very astute observation, Ms. Mithra, thank you. While I believe there may be a correlation, I do believe the House and the Watcher are separate entities, perhaps in conflict over the possession of us guests. The Watcher's influence seems limited to observation, thus far, though it'd be foolish to disregard the fact that the House watches too. As does the Library. With that said, I feel it's time to share my communications prior to being gifted the book above. When I first arrived, I asked for a way to help, and the Library gave me homework, of sorts. I've kept it quiet until now, assuming it was something meant to placate me, but now I'm not so sure.

[ t minus however long until KOBY regrets this ]

It needed to be asked. There are multiple entities involving themselves in our lives, it seems. Beyond just the House, the Library ( author of your book? ) and the Watcher.

Could it not be said that the Watcher's influence is beyond observation?
— They have now taken an active interest in inviting and influencing guests to act against the House, as in the case of Natalie.
— Unless the Balfours and the Shepherd were guests once, it suggests a graduation of scope.
— The Watcher will likely do so in the future, perhaps even beginning with those chosen by the Shepherd? It reminds me of war between higher beings.

Edited 2025-12-02 02:46 (UTC)

[are you kidding he hasn't had this much fun since kobymas.]

Of course, I completely agree. We don't know nearly enough about the situation, we have to consider every angle. Hmmm, I think you're absolutely right, actually, yes! - Now I was thinking more in terms of the Watcher not launching any sort of direct assault on us -- which is confirmed by it's use of proxies. The Shepherd was how it did most of it's influencing, because we'd be inclined to trust someone who appeared similar to us. - Perhaps the Balfours are to the House what the Shepherd was to the Watcher? - But you're absolutely right, we are by no means safe from the Watcher here, especially with the map explicitly stating the barrier keeping it away has been breached. "You will be seen again". - At any rate, caution would be wise when engaging with anything, even if it's ostensibly from the house. Thank you, Ms. Mithra.

Taken in combination with Gwen's question below, it seems it would behoove us to become friendlier with the Balfours, or to find someone who might already have their ear.

[looking into the camera like he's on the office.]

I may know someone.

[ HMM. ]

Who?

[DEEP breath in --]

Set's remained on good terms with them. Somehow.

[ Following a considerable pause: ]

If he is the only one we can count on, so be it, but for the sake of Gwen and Mithra, who were not present during the games, I would stress that his instinct seems to be toward chaos, not toward the more collective good. I would not trust him with more information than is absolutely necessary.

[

]

You're being very tactful, Mr. Silco. I care about him very much, but I also know exactly how Set is. How his mind works. I would cosign that warning, Ms. Mithra and Ms. Gwen. His priorities are not necessarily in keeping with ours. That said, if I make a good enough case, I could perhaps see if he has any insight he'd be willing to share.

Edited 2025-12-04 04:10 (UTC)

[ wow, rude? ]

don’t give him more than u have to
he doesn’t care about anyone but himself

[ harsh, maybe, but what koby needs to hear. he doesn’t care about you. if he did, koby might not have been dead by his boy-toy’s hand. ]

Edited 2025-12-04 08:27 (UTC)

[it sticks, in the mechanism inside koby that constantly compares, contrasts, attempts to determine where he stands, what he's worth, and always turns up not enough. he's quiet for a moment.]

Thank you, Jinx. I'll be careful. I won't offer anything discussed here. If he's unwilling to give information without a trade, we'll have to find other routes.

Set?

As in Sutekh, the Egyptian god of chaos and violence and evil? Why would the House call upon someone like that to be among us?

[ fuck that guy says pax ]

Edited 2025-12-04 13:48 (UTC)

[there's a quick, sharp stab of -- protectiveness, perhaps? still, koby doesn't lay out the vulnerabilities he's seen, the good things, the noble ones -- he has a feeling set would resent it, being piecemeal-cut into his most appealing parts to try and win over strangers.

so, as usual, he leans towards the facts, the logic:]

And foreigners. And the desert and storms, if we're counting. But chaos and strangers in a strange land -- based on the history of our time here at Saltburnt, it's actually quite logical. We've had several deities present, depending on how much credence you give their stories. The House may have affection for us, but it hardly makes life easy as a result.

When you put it that way, it does make perfect sense.

Set used to be a guardian deity, long before he was denounced by the rise of the Osirian cult. Even in my age, he remains a complex and fascinating deity nobody knows much about. I would love the opportunity to speak with him.

[ rip i will never do this mithra ]

That being said, I always give credence to those who claim themselves deities. The Entities of the Household will soon find place upon my altars, until they have spoken otherwise of their status?

[something stills, then, in his chest, that flaring need to puff up and stand up and defend. at least she understands the complexity of it, the way not even the world that worshipped set can truly agree on his aspects. what hope do individuals, living and working and existing alongside him, really have?]

He did, yes. Complex is a very good word to use to describe him. [PIVOTING:] Have you read much of deities, then, Ms. Mithra? My world is quite different in that matter, so I've dabbled a bit in research. The Entities. Do you mean the Balfours and Giles? Or the more unseen residents, such as the Library? Or both?

In a sense. Religious studies were part of my educational curriculum.

And I do mean the Library, and the Watcher. As well as the Mesial and the Sibling. At this time, I consider them a class unto themselves. Our hosts, the Balfours... sometimes I wonder if they are guardians themselves. Ones who have tired of their roles, and we are here to determine who among us might replace them. Or break their hold on reality.

[ A pause. ]

Apologies. Disregard that as idle fancy. I wear the mantle of an author, and such a nature oft clashes with my duties as a researcher.

Edited 2025-12-07 14:08 (UTC)

Oh, I see. At a university, perhaps? It's my understanding that's a topic of study, there. I never attended formal education myself, so I'm not familiar. No, no, that's an ingenious theory, Mithra! [he's eager enough that he forgets the polite title, wow.] The situation is complex and unpredictable enough that even the most passing theory must be noted and investigated!

[this is the house where he turns into a seal, please, in comparison her theory's hardly out-there.]

[ and now for something completely different: ]

mainly cause of the chaos and violence and evil
same as the whole house
only thing it likes more than assholes is rich people 🤑

The House must be a trickster at heart, then. Never quite on anyone's side, but providing grand opportunities should we seize them.

Chaos is a beautiful, natural state of being. The same as Order.

Rich people, however, are dastardly things. Nothing good ever came from anyone who was possessed of money and ego.

Edited 2025-12-05 01:21 (UTC)

Would you like me to attempt and watch our Watcher?

I do not know if it be possible, but even a failed attempt might net us something of value.

[a pause.]

Is it safe for you to do that?

[not "can you", but "could it hurt you".]

Nothing about this is safe, sir.

We can only endeavor to be as prepared as possible.

[ read: please let me help. ]

Edited 2025-12-04 18:38 (UTC)

[disarmed by "sir"--]

Of course, you're right. I do know previous attempts to coerce or control the Shepherd -- the Watcher's proxy -- caused severe suffering to those attempting, so Please be very careful.

Thank you for the kind warning. I cannot do either of those things, rest assured.

I believe it best to only observe, if it is at all possible.

[ it might not be

at least suffering does a soul like hers good. all the better, that she is the one who could seek this. ]

Edited 2025-12-05 00:53 (UTC)

That is very reassuring, yes. Would you be open to explaining how you complete this observation? I have a similar ability, but I find it doesn't work very well, with you, even passively. I wonder if there might be a correlation. Not to entirely derail things, of course.

Divination and ritual. Each is a tool serving the purpose to connect us to that which is beyond our mortal realm.

What do you mean your ability doesn't work very well with me?

[oops. well, probably good for this group to know, at least -- not like it isn't semi-common knowledge.]

I have extrasensory perception abilities. I can usually find people and sense their aura or powers or emotions. I can't, with you. It's like my senses just sort of blip past you, without registering anything.

Oh. I'm terribly sorry. I don't know why what would happen.

[ ( Dearest Mithra, you are different than others. Neither less, nor more, only other than. Yours, N. Roarke. ) ]

If it be helpful, you may always ask of me where I am. Or how I am feeling. I would say were you to ask, sir.

I don't imagine it's your fault, Ms. Mithra. It happens with several people here, off and on. It could also simply be my inexperience manifesting. I've only had these abilities for a little over a year. I'll ask if I can't get ahold of you, or if something happens and I want to make sure you're safe. And please, feel free to do likewise :)

Has anyone spoken to the Balfours directly about Ashcroft? Or what happened at the commune?

I don't know that anyone's been able to get close enough as yet — it does seem to be a somewhat touchy subject.

Dear Group Chat,

I have taken a moment to formalize my considerations. I believe we have much ground to cover. Alone, these tasks may be insurmountable — however, gathering trusted confidantes to assist appears to be an agreeably eventuality. I have written some paths we might like to take, for actionable information in relation to the gifts-cum-warnings received by the Blessed Library.

Feel free to amend or add upon as you please.

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS:

— How did Natalie reach the Heart of the House, and is it a replicable path?

We may need to eventually check on the health of the Heart of the House, especially after it took a fiery blow. Must we physically traverse to it, or could we utilize house guest abilities to look in upon it? It appears to be the crux of the Watcher's interest — they wish it destroyed, as it powers boundaries between the manor grounds and external forces.

Already mentioned are:
— Entreating the Balfours: which may be done best by someone on good standing with them. Some questions we may wish to ask of them/uncover are: what are their roles within the house? When did their manor become the stage upon which this all began to transpire? Is it ancestral, or of recent note?

Additionally:
— Befriending our nameless staff members, especially Mister Giles or a head maid. Heads of households rarely are not intimately involved with the precise ins-and-outs of the House. At least, they were not in my family's house. If anyone has already become close with them, we might avail ourselves to ask them to keep an ear out for information or gossip.

EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS:

— Are we able to return to the woods, the commune, the Flock?

We may wish to keep an eye on them and investigate what could be brewing. They have lost their guide, Gods rest his soul, but cannot be ignored. I would volunteer do this, if you like. I have experience in speaking with people like them — and I was not a part of the houseguests when Miss Ani killed their leader. I might be able to forge some manner of relationship with them.

Already mentioned are:
— Calling for external delivery for the menus. This is brilliant! How will it arrive? Where does it come from?

SOME OTHER QUERIES:

— What is the Watcher's goal and what role to the Guardians serve against it?

Are they to protect the Heart of the House, or are they to become wardens to control the other guests? What are their duties, why were they chosen and are they more endangered by virtue of being named by the House?

The Watcher seems to have the ability to coerce guests into acting against the House's interests — Natalie wished to keep everyone save, but the Watcher specifically stated they would be "free". She wanted to go home. They stated she "will be home". Words are important, when dealing with entities and spirits. The Watcher likely wishes to be free of something shackling them ( the Heart? ), and transform the land into their domain instead.

— Is "L. Brary" the penname of the Library?

If so, is A. Carrion another room within the House? ( I hear there is a room made of meat? ) Or another Entity: discovered or not? Do the Entities already entreated with play a role for or against the House? It is of note that Mister Koby received a book from L. Brary and Mister Silco received his tomes from A. Carrion both times.

That the play has no author is curious to me. Did Miss Gwen's map have a cartographer credited?

We may wish to involve or at least inform the other Guardians, sooner than later. I do not know if — once claimed by the House — they become immune to the Watcher's persuasion, or they are as corruptible as any other soul. Or if the Watcher will attempt to harm them by using those they love, or trust.

That being said, thank you for your consideration and for my acceptance into your midst. I am grateful to be of service — please consider all of my education and training at your collective disposal.

Sincerely,
M.N. Antonescu

[ Following another interjection (and a private weighing of the pros and cons of putting Jinx and Mithra in the same space)— ]

@ SILCO has added @ GETJINXED to the chat.

[

]

jinxy 💥 hereeee
don’t know anything else but i’m good at clues even in super boring books
🩵🖤🩵

[ less good at getting her closest allies to listen to her, as werewolf proved, but we’re working on it. ]

Dear Miss Jinxy,

That is wonderful news. What questions do you like best to ask or investigate ? Are you interested in the Entities I have heard about, or perhaps our Blessed Guardians?

I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,
M.N. Antonescu

SALTBURNT | research group chat.

@silco.

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:)