WHIRLING LENA CRYPTIDS CHECK - 1202
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Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids"]
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Hmm... I'm not sure I agree with that, sweetie. At any rate, some argue that the kind green ape should also be thought of as human, especially because it has shown itself to be so *humane*. I don't dare form an opinion one way or the other without more information, though."
40
You: "Why don't you have more information?"
2->40
397
You: "Have you ever tried to find the kind green ape yourself?"
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You: "What evidence is there of this animal being a sound?"
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Plenty. It's the evidence that led to its discovery. In the Twenties, a group of Areopagite ornithologists -- that is, scientists who study birds -- were trying out a new recording technology for capturing sounds outside the range of human hearing."
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424
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "When playing back recordings they had made in the foothills of the Ea mountain range, they noticed... certain anomalies -- patterns that seemed random at first, but, on closer examination, were consistent with the waveforms of song birds..."
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IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
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IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
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!(IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false)
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199
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about one cryptid."
6->199
444
IsKimHere()
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You: "Right, okay, we can move on for now." (It'd be dishonourable to renege on the promise.)
198
Kim Kitsuragi: He nods approvingly.
8->198
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "There are limits, you see, to how large a metabolism an ecosystem can beget. Some say a gravity anomaly below the Koko Nur desert might allow the creature to grow to these *gargantuan* sizes."
432
Inland Empire: Great. This is great shit. You need more.
9->432
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh -- it is. None of its victims survived. Grieving relatives never even found their bodies because the Gnome's venom *dissolved* organic tissue."
183
You: "What did this cryptid look like?"
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You: "It followed him?"
13
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "More like *he* followed it. A bird that big has many litres of blood in it and he was dying of thirst. For many days, Dr. Plattenkalk followed the teratorn, until they reached a great canyon wall, where the bird finally landed to rest."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The bird was controlling his mind. It *kept* him from approaching. He could step back, but every time he stepped forward -- paralysis. Uwe spent three days trying, until the bird flew away."
411
Untitled hub
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The professor climbed up there, with a rock in his hand. He found the bird sleeping with its head tucked under its wing. A great black pile of feathers on the perch. So he approached, slowly squeezing the rock in his fist..."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The eight-eyed teratorn was indifferent to him, as long as he didn't get closer than two steps. It even let him feed on some carcasses up there -- and the two unfertilized eggs it left behind."
169
You: "An eight-eyed mind-controlling bird? No way."
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295
You: "An eight-eyed mind-controlling bird? C'mon..."
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317
You: "An eight-eyed mind-controlling bird. Fuck yes."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She grins. "I'm glad you liked them, but I'm not really one to tell you about *all* of them. You should ask my husband if you get the chance. He's the real expert."
369
Jump to: [lenamainhub]
15->369
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You: "I helped you get your husband back. You *owe* me some sweet cryptid facts as a reward!"
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IsKimHere()
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You: "I want to know everything about cryptids. Living cryptids, extinct cryptids, marine cryptids, land cryptids. Bring it on!"
394
IsKimHere()
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Your work must get quite frustrating. Well, okay, just one or two more..." She grins.
208
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The smallest cryptid is the *Cryobacter katlensis*, a unicellular bacterium. It was discovered in one of the northern-most points of Katla on the Boreal Plateau -- by renowned geologist Catelyn Mijanou some 70 years ago."
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You: "But, but... this is so much more *interesting* than my real job."
352
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Your work must get quite frustrating. Well, okay, just one or two more..." She grins.
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Please don't misunderstand me, either of you! I didn't mean to imply that Seolites are inferior to us. In many ways," she turns to the lieutenant, "you are superior. For example, your earwax doesn't have a foul odour like ours does."
21
Kim Kitsuragi: "A tremendous evolutionary advantage, I'm sure. But perhaps we've had enough speculative biology for today?"
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458
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "What do you mean?"
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You: "He doesn't seem to have any character flaws. No human being is that perfect."
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210
You: "People like him who stand out... they just don't belong here."
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441
You: "He's so cool, completely out of this world."
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108
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Hmm..." She thinks. "Some argue that the kind green ape should also be thought of as human, especially because it has shown itself to be so *humane*. I don't dare form an opinion one way or the other without more information, though."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She smiles. "Well, the most dangerous cryptid is thought to have been the Gnome of Geroma."
277
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "None of its victims survived. Grieving relatives never even found their bodies because the Gnome's venom dissolved organic tissue almost entirely."
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Kim Kitsuragi: "If the body of the creature was found," the lieutenant can't help himself, "why aren't there detailed illustrations of it in science textbooks? Confirming the existence of this very lethal species?"
137
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Alas, the first scientist who got his hands on the creature's corpse put it in a jar of formaldehyde, thinking that would detoxify the Gnome's venom."
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You: "Shush, Kim, she's gonna tell me about the invisible cryptid. What is it?"
195
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It's the *Col Do Ma Ma Daqua*," the woman corrects her glasses. "Its name means 'thin whisper of sound'. And that's *precisely* what it is -- self-replicating sound waves, invisible and intangible! The Col Do Ma Ma is very afraid of us, which makes it incredibly difficult to track..."
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Jump to: [daquahub]
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daquahub
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You: "What does it, um, sound like?"
29
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Like nothing. It's such a high-pitched sound that us humans can't hear it -- nor can other animals. It could be ringing right outside your window -- and you wouldn't even know it! It could be anywhere -- everywhere, even..."
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IsKimHere()
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Jump to: [daquahub]
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Kim Kitsuragi: "And I *don't*. Just one."
49
Volition: Or he'll be *disappointed* in you.
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "...everything has a price, sweetie."
325
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "After Mijanou treated herself with the bacteria, she stopped ageing, but also became increasingly eccentric and irascible, so that even her oldest friends were forced to pull away..."
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You: "Wow. *The* cryptid?"
337
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh yes." The small silvery skull shines between your fingers, its beak sharp.
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You: "I understand. He started hunting it."
124
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. A bird that big has a lot of blood in it and he was dying of thirst. For many days Dr. Plattenkalk followed the teratorn. Until they reached a great canyon wall, where the bird finally landed to rest."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Absolutely, sweetie," she smiles, glad you agree. "Cryptozoologists have been tracing it ever since, but Uamrao is vast, mysterious, and holds many secrets."
222
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "This one's very famous, everyone knows it. People will be looking at that tie on you and thinking: that man is into cryptids." She winks. "So -- what else do you want to know?"
316
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
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Logic: "Alas!" Always "alas, and then it was gone!" Isn't that overly convenient?
254
Variable["whirling.lena_cryptids_rhetoric_alas"]
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I'm very grateful to you, sweetie. But -- now that I think about it -- you should talk to Morell about cryptids. He could tell you so much more!"
175
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She turns to Morell. "Right, honey?"
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh, I'd be delighted!"
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cryptidintrohub
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The ape is very shy. It prefers observing human activity from afar and only approaches when it feels that it must intervene to save lives. No scientist has managed to track it down. Not even Morell. It's so mysterious -- I really can't tell you anything more about it."
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Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully.
374
Volition: Something in him breaks.
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You: "I don't understand. Why would you prolong your life? Being alive is terrible."
237
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh, sweetie, it's not all quite so awful. But prolonging one's life does seem to come with risks."
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You: "Right, okay, we can move on for now." (It'd be dishonourable to renege on the promise.)
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Kim Kitsuragi: He nods approvingly.
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You: "What if it's predatory?"
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It's not. Don't worry. If it were predatory we would have found it by the damage it inflicts."
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You: "They amplify each other."
336
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "No, dear. They cancel each other out. And these tests were performed so recklessly that when they happened upon the right frequency... well, they wiped out most of the population."
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46
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
47
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
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!(Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"])
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202
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh, I'd be delighted! Truth be told, I could really use the company too..."
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230
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I suppose you could use a break, and I could use a distraction..."
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359
Encyclopedia: Whooh... tough choice there.
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You: "Immortal bacteria, immortal geologist? That's too wild."
312
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Wild, yes. Impossible, no. Although..."
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You: No. It was a perfectly good explanation, stop being so sceptical.
165
Logic: Sure. A perfectly good explanation. It dissolved in its *own* venom. Go on then, ask about more gnomes or whatever.
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You: "Okay. What *is* this bird?"
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The eight-eyed teratorn, the largest flying avian ever discovered -- with a wingspan of 11.5 metres. It was thought to have gone extinct 3,500 years ago, some even doubted the *fossils* were real. A mutation, they said. Until..."
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339
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It happened on a botanical expedition into the vast and unexplored Uamrao canyon in southeast Iilmaraa. Dr. Plattenkalk got separated from his group during a sandstorm..."
293
You: "What happened?"
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315
You: "Okay -- and Uamrao is..."
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Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"]
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Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"]
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!(Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"])
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415
Suggestion: There's really no point in manipulating anyone. You're chummy. Just go on and ask!
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Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
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IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
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IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
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!(IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false)
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Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about one cryptid."
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454
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I thought we'd agreed on just one cryptid, sweetie."
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Morell, the Cryptozoologist: "Sure, why not?" He scowls.
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Jump to: [lenamainhub]
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Jump to: [lenamainhub]
8680843
JUMP OUT to WHIRLING / LENA MAIN
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kimhumanhub
366
You: "I'm pretty sure Kim is the same species as us... to suggest otherwise is stupid."
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399
You: "I knew it, Kim! You're not human!"
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455
You: "Hah, that's why I always have to take the lead -- right, Kim?"
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400
You: "Right, okay, we can move on for now." (It'd be dishonourable to renege on the promise.)
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417
You: "But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?"
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65
You: "What's the tiniest cryptid?"
278
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
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66
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The most dangerous cryptid is thought to have been the Gnome of Geroma."
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Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about *one* cryptid."
67->43
86
You: "But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?"
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You: "But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?"
159
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully.
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You: "Wow. With its saliva?"
166
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. It has amazing healing qualities. Some soldiers reported growing back limbs, regaining their sight..."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The world's largest canyon system, sweetie. It's a barren waste east of the Erg desert -- an ancient riverbed, completely dried up."
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You: "Hold on, how did he survive to tell the story?"
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Suggestion: Nope, you don't have any new winning tactics to get the woman to spill the beans about cryptids.
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Kim Kitsuragi: He nods approvingly.
135
Jump to: [lenamainhub]
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Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully.
249
Volition: Something in him breaks.
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Mhm, Mijanou did talk about the end of the world a great deal before her abrupt departure."
133
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Everyone thought the bacteria had driven her mad. But she really was a brilliant woman -- maybe the Cryobacter katlensis allowed her to see something no one else could..."
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Kim Kitsuragi: "We don't have time for Cryptozoology 101. Let's get back to work, shall we?"
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She looks at you, her voice grave suddenly. "It still took the Gnome of Geroma an entire *day* to die."
125
IsKimHere()
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I thought we'd agreed on just one cryptid, sweetie."
301
You: "But, but... this is so much more *interesting* than my real job."
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437
You: "Just one -- or two -- more, Lena. Pretty please?"
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Electrochemistry: Cryptids, cryptids, let's hear about ALL the interesting cryptids!
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh, no, I didn't mean to imply that Seolites are inferior to us. In many ways," she turns to the lieutenant, "you are superior. For example, your earwax doesn't have a foul odour like ours does."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "That would be the Giant of Koko Nur!" she says as if it's common knowledge.
420
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The Giant lives in the most arid parts of the vast Koko Nur desert, in South Samara, casting a strange light across the barren wastes."
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You: "You mean, there is an immortal geologist wandering the world?"
107
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes, and she's quite mad too -- after she treated herself with the bacteria, she stopped ageing, but also became increasingly eccentric and irascible, so that even her oldest friends were forced to pull away..."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I thought we'd agreed on just one cryptid, sweetie."
185
You: "Just one or two more, Lena. Pretty please?"
83->185
370
You: "But, but... this is so much more *interesting* than my real job."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "No one knows for sure. It is like an *awful* mountain appearing from below the horizon and expanding to cover almost a third of your field of vision."
308
Variable["whirling.lena_dangerous_giant"]
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85
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The towering luminosity of Koko Nur is a bad omen in local folklore. Some say it's a fata morgana, others -- a fate unimaginable."
187
Variable["whirling.lena_big_giant"]
85->187
186
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully.
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87
You: "Are there any photos of it?"
157
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Alas, no. And the first scientist who got his hands on the creature's corpse put it in a jar of formaldehyde, thinking that would detoxify the Gnome's venom."
87->157
88
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It could be," she says calmly. "As I said, it could be *everywhere*, and we wouldn't know any better. It could be ringing all the days of our lives -- *and* nights."
120
Half Light: Maybe it's predatory?
88->120
89
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "After that, the corpuscle appears to have migrated elsewhere. There have been recordings of anomalies similar to those spotted in Ea -- but they've been few and far between. It's impossible to confirm the presence of any stable Col Do Ma Ma Daqua population anywhere."
331
IsKimHere()
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90
Suggestion: She *transforms* when speaking about these strange animals -- into a confident woman.
335
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "They realized that they had discovered a new species -- and called it the Col Do Ma Ma Daqua. After the Perikarnassian name for the voice of god, which is said to be *very* silent."
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "He was lost, without any navigation equipment and desperately low on water. After a day or two he noticed a bird high in the noon sky. A great black bird, it seemed gargantuan."
250
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Every now and then, the bird would dive down to feed on an animal carcass somewhere on the horizon. But by the time Uwe got there, the teratorn had taken off already -- and the carcass was picked clean. This happened many times."
91->250
92
You: "He was following it?"
93
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. Or, rather, *hunting*. A bird that big has a lot of blood in it and he was dying of thirst. For many days, Dr. Plattenkalk followed the teratorn, until they reached a great canyon wall, where the bird finally landed to rest."
92->93
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Rhetoric: He's sincere. He likes the audacity of it.
388
Untitled hub (03)
94->388
96
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids"]
95->96
97
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids"])
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96->55
203
Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"]
97->203
98
Jump to: [lenamainhub]
98->8680843
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Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Your work must get quite frustrating. Well, okay, just one or two more..." She smiles mischievously.
258
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The biggest cryptid is of course -- the Giant of Koko Nur. It's huge."
99->258
100
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Sorry, sweetie. I can't get into that just now. Garte did say he could deliver a telegram for me earlier, and I should really notify our house sitter about our delay..."
450
Suggestion: Oh no, she's making excuses. You're not interesting enough to talk cryptids with.
100->450
101
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
102
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
101->102
103
!(IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false)
101->103
149
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about one cryptid."
102->149
106
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I thought we'd agreed on just one cryptid, sweetie."
103->106
104
Kim Kitsuragi: He nods approvingly.
104->62
105
You: "Just one or two more, Lena. Pretty please?"
212
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She grins. "Can't say no to that. Well... the smallest cryptid is the *Cryobacter katlensis*, a unicellular bacterium. It was discovered in one of the northern-most points of Katla on the Boreal Plateau -- by renowned geologist Catelyn Mijanou some 70 years ago."
105->212
106->105
182
You: "But, but... this is so much more *interesting* than my real job."
106->182
419
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "We can assume that she has been living somewhere in the wilderness for decades now, all alone except for the *Cryobacter katlensis* coursing through her bloodstream..."
107->419
108->40
108->397
109
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
110
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
109->110
111
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"])
109->111
326
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
110->326
460
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The Gnome of Geroma." She pauses for effect.
111->460
112
IsKimHere()
113
IsKimHere()
112->113
114
!(IsKimHere())
112->114
442
Kim Kitsuragi: "Hooey," the lieutenant interjects. "No animal can be that large. It's a mirage."
113->442
401
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "That's what makes it so peculiar -- a species surviving at the very limits of scientific law. The Giant of Koko Nur must be the largest animal the planet can support."
114->401
115
Jump to: [daquahub]
115->238
116
Kim Kitsuragi: "Okay. I won't spoil your fun," the lieutenant concedes. "What is the invisible cryptid?"
116->195
118
IsKimHere()
117->118
119
!(IsKimHere())
117->119
402
Kim Kitsuragi: "Fine I'll bite." The lieutenant looks at her sceptically. "How can an animal be a sound?"
118->402
215
You: "But how can an animal be a sound?"
119->215
240
Variable["whirling.lena_col_half"]
120->240
121
You: "The Gnome of Geroma? That doesn't sound too bad."
121->10
122
You: "*Cryobacter... katlensis*?"
409
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. A unicellular bacterium that was discovered in one of the northern-most points of Katla on the Boreal Plateau -- by renowned geologist Catelyn Mijanou some 70 years ago."
122->409
123
You: "And there was something about an undiscovered sub-species of man?"
218
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Indeed there is! It's our closest relative among the cryptids. Same taxonomic family, different genus."
123->218
124->342
126
IsKimHere()
125->126
127
!(IsKimHere())
125->127
126->25
127->87
128
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
129
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
128->129
130
!(IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false)
128->130
302
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant leans in. "Hey, you promised you'd only ask about one cryptid."
129->302
130->78
131
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She smiles. "Well, the smallest cryptid is the *Cryobacter katlensis*, a unicellular bacterium. It was discovered in one of the northern-most points of Katla on the Boreal Plateau -- by renowned geologist Catelyn Mijanou some 70 years ago."
373
unicellularhub
131->373
132
You: "Right, okay, we can move on for now." (It'd be dishonourable to renege on the promise.)
132->104
209
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
133->209
134
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant pauses thoughtfully.
357
Volition: Something in him breaks.
134->357
135->8680843
136
Kim Kitsuragi: "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
304
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She smiles. "Well, the cryptid on your pen is the kind green ape. Half war story, half undiscovered species in the genus homo."
136->304
311
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Instead, all the venom leaked out of the creature's teeth and into the surrounding liquid, dissolving the creature itself. A poetic end, perhaps, but a real loss for science..." she says, mostly to herself.
137->311
211
Jump to: [lenamainhub]
138->211
139
You: "Are there any *invisible* cryptids?"
428
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
139->428
140
Kim Kitsuragi: "Of course. All fairy tales have someone or something invisible in them."
193
Untitled hub
140->193
141
You: "You're right Kim, it's childish, but I need to know."
141->116
142
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "No, dear. But this is basic physics... Oh, sorry, there I go assuming..." She looks flustered for a moment, her eyes full of mute apology, then she recomposes herself. "At any rate, these tests..."
289
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "...they were performed so recklessly that when they happened upon the right frequency... well, they wiped out most of the population."
142->289
143
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The scientists soon discovered they could track and even *predict* what appeared to be feeding, mating, and migration patterns based on sound waves in a *strictly delimited* range of ultrasonic frequencies -- even higher than those of the highest-pitched bat calls."
143->90
144
Suggestion: This lady really should be a teacher. She's really good at the explaining things thing.
376
Encyclopedia: Psst. They cancel each other out.
144->376
145
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Sequester. Thyme. Josquin --" She nods. "Those are but some of the Ma Ma Daqua they followed individually."
145->30
146
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "They grew quite obsessed with these little birds -- even though they couldn't see them, they could distinguish among individual birds and," she smiles, "even began to *name* some of them."
447
You: "Name them?"
146->447
148
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Mijanou disappeared shortly after injecting herself with the bacteria she had brought back to study -- no doubt, in hopes of prolonging her *own* life."
287
bacteriahub
148->287
149->132
321
You: "But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?"
149->321
150
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant mutters something under his breath but nods for you to go ahead.
151
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes! It's the kind green ape. Half war story, half undiscovered species in the genus homo."
248
You: "War story?"
151->248
152
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Well, the cryptid on your pen is the kind green ape."
438
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It was seen in South Safre during the war, visiting bunkers during the night and healing wounded soldiers with its saliva."
152->438
153
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I didn't mean to imply that Seolites are in any way inferior to us. In some ways, they are superior -- every species has its advantages and disadvantages."
306
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The kind green ape, too, is in some ways superior to us -- such kindness as it has demonstrated is not common among humans."
153->306
154
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Which is to say, the kind green ape is a species with which we share a common ancestor and that evolved parallel to our own -- just like your partner's!"
281
IsKimHere()
154->281
155
Kim Kitsuragi: "Yes, advantages such as the flakier texture of Seolite earwax, or so I've heard. Nothing inspires pride in one's species quite like speculative evolutionary biology. Perhaps we've had enough of that for today?"
155->458
156
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "*Cryobacter katlensis*," she answers immediately.
156->122
157->311
158
You: "Why is the Ma Ma Daqua so afraid of us?"
267
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "That is a sad story." She frowns. "A group of university students assisting with the field work, in their enthusiasm for the project and, no doubt, because they were preoccupied with impressing their professors, nearly drove it to *extinction*."
158->267
404
Volition: Something in him breaks.
159->404
160
Kim Kitsuragi: "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
200
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Well, the answer is: yes, there is an invisible cryptid."
160->200
161
You: "Wait, she *injected* herself with it?"
217
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. The bacteria had survived in the ice since times immemorial. It is not hard to see where she could have gotten the idea."
161->217
162
IsKimHere()
163
IsKimHere()
162->163
164
!(IsKimHere())
162->164
383
Kim Kitsuragi: "It's actually *a little* hard to see." He looks at her sceptically. "But do go on."
163->383
164->42
164->50
164->82
274
You: "She was preparing for the end times. She wanted to witness and record the Twilight Proceedings."
164->274
286
You: "I intend to live forever too. As a symbol."
164->286
351
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
165->351
166->123
167
Untitled hub
167->11
167->34
167->92
168
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Of course, sweetie. Do you want to hear about another cryptid? The teratorn is, by many accounts, the greatest though..."
387
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
168->387
251
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes way, sweetie," she smiles, used to derision. "Cryptozoologists have been tracing it ever since, but Uamrao is vast, mysterious, and holds many secrets."
169->251
170
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She nods. "I understand your scepticism, but that's what happens with things that are rare and stand out -- their disappearance is most memorable, and they are least likely to be found again."
170->351
171
You: "Seems very convenient, that it just disappeared and nothing like it was seen again."
171->170
172
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
173
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
172->173
174
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"])
172->174
173->58
174->151
175->61
176
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids_failed"]
177
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids_failed"]
176->177
178
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptids_failed"])
176->178
177->72
319
Suggestion: You're an enthusiastic idiot. But you're still an idiot.
178->319
179
You: "Hey, Lena, I'd really like to hear about some of those juicy *cryptids* you've studied. Could you tell me about a couple?"
179->39
180
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It's our closest relative among the cryptids. Same taxonomic family, different genus."
180->154
181
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Please don't misunderstand me, either of you. *Human* as it is used in everyday speech is hardly a taxonomic category. For all intents and purposes, you can be thought of as human..."
264
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She looks at the lieutenant, genially. "...though Seolites do have some distinguishing characteristics, different *advantages*, if you will."
181->264
182->18
418
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "It *was* reportedly a small creature -- with webbed fingers and a protruding forehead. An ungainly little thing. Quite scary to look at."
183->418
184
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The bacterial colony Mijanou found had remained alive while frozen in ice for longer than anyone could reliably estimate -- certainly from before recorded history."
184->148
422
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She grins. "Can't say no to that."
185->422
191
Volition: Something in him breaks.
186->191
188
Variable["whirling.lena_big_giant"]
187->188
189
!(Variable["whirling.lena_big_giant"])
187->189
188->112
265
You: "And just how big is it?"
189->265
190
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
190->285
372
Kim Kitsuragi: "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
191->372
192
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "What an interesting question! And the answer is: yes, there are!"
192->444
193->26
193->141
194
Jump to: [daquahub]
194->238
266
Encyclopedia: "Col Do Ma Ma Daqua" can also be translated as "a whisper light and low."
195->266
196
You: "I don't know... Do I look like a dweeb?"
196->142
197
Half Light: I wouldn't be so sure. What if the damage is *also* invisible?
197->194
403
Jump to: [lenamainhub]
198->403
199->8
199->68
288
You: "What's that?"
200->288
201
You: "Okay. Not now, let's back up a notch."
201->168
271
IsKimHere()
202->271
204
Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"]
203->204
205
!(Variable["TASK.inspect_traps_done"])
203->205
297
Suggestion: You should totally use emotional blackmail. Because that *always* works on women.
204->297
205->176
206
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She grins. "Can't say no to that. Well... the biggest cryptid is the Giant of Koko Nur."
206->420
207->8680843
208->373
209->285
210->2
211->8680843
212->373
213
You: "A whisper light and low..."
377
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes, that's another translation." Her eyes light up behind her glasses. "They're both quite lovely, aren't they?"
213->377
214
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Well, dear -- they cancel each other out. And these tests were performed so recklessly that when they happened upon the right frequency... well, they wiped out most of the population."
449
Empathy: Great regret washes over her. A wending cloth.
214->449
426
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Many scientists have asked the same question -- some have claimed that it isn't *itself* a sound, but a tiny *corpuscle* that emits sound waves. But there's no evidence to support this theory."
215->426
216
You: "Interesting. What about..." (Conclude.)
443
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She smiles gently. "What about what?"
216->443
217->162
218->154
219
You: "Is this bird a cryptid?" (Point to the tie she gave you.)
410
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "No." Her eyes narrow mysteriously. "It's *the* cryptid."
219->410
220
Morell, the Cryptozoologist: "Mutation..." the man scoffs. "All of evolution is a mutation."
360
You: "Until?"
220->360
221
Kim Kitsuragi: "This one -- I liked," the lieutenant puts down his notes. "Not only does it have eight eyes, *and* is a living fossil, *and* the largest bird ever to live. It also does mind control."
221->94
223
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
222->223
224
!(Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"])
222->224
268
IsKimHere()
223->268
225
Morell, the Cryptozoologist: "Modern radar telemetry shows great promise -- we *will* confirm this one. By the end of the decade, latest."
224->225
225->268
227
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
226->227
228
!(Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"])
226->228
252
Suggestion: There's really no point in manipulating anyone. She'd be only too pleased to tell you about her work. Go on and ask!
227->252
229
Suggestion: Sometimes, the most charming thing you can do is be *reasonable* in your requests.
228->229
436
You: "Could you tell me about one, just *one* interesting cryptid?"
"Could you tell me about one, just *one* more interesting cryptid? The Insulindian phasmid was great."
229->436
230->271
231
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant shuts his eyes briefly...
275
Kim Kitsuragi: "That's not how the world works. Let's get back to our investigation, shall we?"
231->275
232
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
233
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
232->233
234
!(Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"])
232->234
233->100
348
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She frowns. "Oh dear. Normally I would be happy to talk cryptids all day, but I'm just so frazzled right now, I couldn't tell a tadpole from a fingerling."
234->348
235
Kim Kitsuragi: "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
235->131
236
You: "Just one or two more, Lena. Pretty please?"
440
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She grins. "Can't say no to that."
236->440
237->325
238->3
238->28
238->158
238->213
238->216
244
You: "Could it be *here*?" (Look around.) "Right now?"
238->244
239
You: Just nod eagerly.
239->143
241
Variable["whirling.lena_col_half"]
240->241
242
!(Variable["whirling.lena_col_half"])
240->242
241->44
242->194
243
You: "Mhm, song birds."
243->143
244->88
245->197
246
Physical Instrument: You have *no clue* because you're not a DWEEB.
246->45
246->196
290
You: "They cancel each other out."
246->290
425
You: "I don't know."
246->425
247
You: "This has been educational, sadly we need to discuss something else." (Conclude.)
431
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Of course, dear."
247->431
384
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes. It was reported by soldiers in South Safre during the war. The kind green ape would visit bunkers during the night, healing wounded soldiers with its saliva."
248->384
347
Kim Kitsuragi: "Ah, fuck it. Let's have more cryptids."
249->347
385
Half Light: Eat the bird, Uwe. It's the only way to survive.
250->385
251->222
392
You: "Hey, Lena, I'd like to hear about some of the cryptids you've studied. Could you just tell me about a couple of them?"
252->392
253
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant throws you one of his *looks*. "*One* cryptid -- not a couple. One. This won't turn into some kind of cryptid extravaganza."
365
You: "Okay, Kim. Just one little cryptid. Promise."
253->365
408
You: "Cryptid extravaganza? I like the sound of that."
253->408
255
Variable["whirling.lena_cryptids_rhetoric_alas"]
254->255
256
!(Variable["whirling.lena_cryptids_rhetoric_alas"])
254->256
255->51
255->171
256->351
257
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "But just one. I doubt your partner would appreciate it if I were to distract you from your duties for much longer!"
258->420
259
You: "Right, okay, we can move on for now." (It'd be dishonourable to renege on the promise.)
318
Kim Kitsuragi: "I'm glad you see it that way." He nods approvingly. "Did we have anything more to do here?"
259->318
260
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
261
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
260->261
262
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"])
260->262
261->128
262->81
263
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant looks at you, pleasantly surprised.
263->80
264->155
265->84
266->238
375
You: "Extinction?"
267->375
269
IsKimHere()
268->269
270
!(IsKimHere())
268->270
269->221
270->388
272
IsKimHere()
271->272
273
!(IsKimHere())
271->273
379
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
272->379
273->285
274->75
275->207
276
You: "It won't take long... what harm could hearing about one, just one *little* cryptid do?"
276->150
277->183
279
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
278->279
280
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"])
278->280
279->101
280->156
282
IsKimHere()
281->282
283
!(IsKimHere())
281->283
282->63
453
nokimhumanhub
283->453
284
Kim Kitsuragi: He gives Lena a look communicating something between disgust and exasperation. "Ma'am, you're *confusing* him."
284->181
285->65
285->139
285->219
285->247
349
You: "Is that a cryptid on this pen you gave me?" (Take out the pen she gave you.)
285->349
367
You: "What's the biggest cryptid?"
285->367
368
You: "What's the most dangerous cryptid?"
285->368
459
You: "Man, I just can't get enough of these cryptids."
285->459
353
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Everything has a price, sweetie."
286->353
287->42
287->50
287->82
287->161
287->274
287->286
330
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The *Col Do Ma Ma Daqua*, or 'thin whisper of sound'. And that's *precisely* what it seems to be -- self-replicating sound waves, invisible and intangible! It's very afraid of us, which makes it incredibly difficult to track."
288->330
289->449
427
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Exactly... And these tests were performed so recklessly that when they happened upon the right frequency... well, they wiped out most of the population."
290->427
291
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She nods gravely. "They tried to communicate with it, and had no other means but sound. So they started sending out sound waves at frequencies they thought might match the Ma Ma Daqua's. And what happens when a sound wave meets another sound wave of the same frequency, dear?"
291->144
292
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
292->285
338
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Alone in the blasted desert heat the doctor wandered eastward, where man hasn't stepped foot in over a thousand years -- since the fall of Perikarnassis."
293->338
294
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Then the teratorn suddenly looked at him. He could see it had *eight eyes* -- four on either side of its skull, like a spider -- and the man couldn't move. He was paralysed, frozen into place with the rock in his hand. Whatever he did, he could not get closer to the bird."
433
You: "Why?"
294->433
343
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Yes way, sweetie," she smiles, used to derision. "Cryptozoologists have been tracing it ever since, but Uamrao is vast, mysterious, and holds many secrets."
295->343
296
You: "Okay. So it's never been seen again."
413
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Sadly, yes. But there are numerous reports of eight-eyed bird skulls from Iilmaraa. And then there's the striking resemblance to the Perikarnassian Imperial Eagle -- an ancient heraldic symbol -- that is hard to pass off as coincidence. The imperial eagle, too, had eight eyes."
296->413
297->16
299
IsKimHere()
298->299
300
!(IsKimHere())
298->300
299->231
300->38
301->99
302->259
320
You: "But, Kim... Don't *you* want to hear about another cryptid too?"
302->320
303
Kim Kitsuragi: He nods and assumes a waiting posture.
303->79
304->248
305
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Some argue that the kind green ape should also be thought of as human, especially because it has shown itself to be so *humane*. I don't dare form an opinion one way or the other without more information, though."
307
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
305->307
355
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Granted, kindness may not be an evolutionary advantage..."
306->355
307->285
309
Variable["whirling.lena_dangerous_giant"]
308->309
310
!(Variable["whirling.lena_dangerous_giant"])
308->310
309->112
356
You: "Is it dangerous?"
310->356
311->37
312->32
313
Jump to: [cryptidintrohub]
313->285
314
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Oh yes. None of its victims survived. Grieving relatives never even found their bodies because the Gnome's venom *dissolved* organic tissue."
314->183
315->70
316->285
317->35
318->98
319->17
320->74
321->41
322
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "My husband did, but it's a shy creature and only shows itself to humans when it feels that it must invervene to save lives. No scientist has ever been able to track it down. It's so mysterious -- I really can't tell you anything more about it."
322->307
323
You: "I think there's a name for that -- racism."
323->153
324
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "We can assume that she has been living somewhere in the wilderness for decades now, all alone except for the *Cryobacter katlensis* coursing through her bloodstream..."
324->209
325->324
327
IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false
326->327
328
!(IsKimHere() and Variable["whirling.lena_kim_wants_cryptids"] == false)
326->328
327->67
328->83
329
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "I'm glad you did, dear." She seems genuinely glad.
329->115
330->266
332
IsKimHere()
331->332
333
!(IsKimHere())
331->333
358
Kim Kitsuragi: "Of course. A common thread in these -- disappearance and unfalsifiability..." He concedes: "I liked the story, though, ma'am."
332->358
333->115
334
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Although the 'low' part is a little ironic -- the Col Do Ma Ma Daqua makes, or, rather, *is* such a high-pitched sound that other animals, including humans, can't *hear* it. It could be everywhere, all of the time -- and we wouldn't know."
334->117
378
You: "Go on."
335->378
405
You: "Wow."
335->405
336->449
337->52
338->91
340
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
339->340
341
!(Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"])
339->341
340->360
341->220
435
Reaction Speed: Watch out!
342->435
343->222
344
IsKimHere()
345
IsKimHere()
344->345
346
!(IsKimHere())
344->346
364
Kim Kitsuragi: "Uhm... Do we have time for *breaks* to listen to theories about imaginary animals?"
345->364
346->257
393
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: She smiles. "Well, the *biggest* cryptid is -- of course -- the horrible Giant of Koko Nur."
347->393
348->207
349->172
350
You: "You mean... Kim isn't human? I knew it!"
456
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "In everyday speech, *human* isn't really a scientific category. For all legal and ethical purposes, your partner is a person just like you, so you might as well *think* of him as being human, too."
350->456
351->285
457
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "The cryptid on your pen is the kind green ape."
352->457
353->325
354
You: "Oh."
354->305
355->307
356->85
357->136
358->329
359->285
361
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Until it was *sighted* by renowned Gottwaldian explorer and naturalist Uwe Plattenkalk in '21."
360->361
362
Encyclopedia: This *renown* seems a bit dubious -- your own catalogue comes up completely empty, but -- of course -- you are not all knowing.
361->362
362->201
386
You: "I need to hear about this sighting."
362->386
363
Morell, the Cryptozoologist: "Very, *very* hard."
363->36
364->276
365->303
366->263
367->260
368->109
369->8680843
461
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Your work must get quite frustrating. Well, okay, just one or two more..." She grins.
370->461
371
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Well, the most dangerous cryptid is thought to have been the Gnome of Geroma."
371->277
372->24
423
You: "What's so special about it?"
373->423
374->235
375->291
376->246
377->334
378->146
380
Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"]
379->380
381
!(Variable["whirling.lena_tell_water_lock"])
379->381
380->253
382
Kim Kitsuragi: The lieutenant throws you one of his *looks*. "*One* cryptid -- like you said. One. This can't turn into some kind of cryptid extravaganza. We have things to do."
381->382
382->365
382->408
383->42
383->50
383->82
383->274
383->286
384->69
384->123
385->167
386->54
387->285
388->296
412
You: "So that was the last anyone saw of it?"
388->412
389
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
390
Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"]
389->390
391
!(Variable["TASK.report_to_lena"])
389->391
390->36
391->363
392->46
393->420
395
IsKimHere()
394->395
396
!(IsKimHere())
394->396
395->76
396->232
397->322
398
You: "And undoubtedly inferior to our species as well."
398->153
399->284
400->73
401->9
402->426
403->8680843
404->160
407
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "Mhm. They grew quite obsessed with these little birds -- even though they couldn't see them, they could distinguish among individual birds and," she smiles, "even began to *name* some of them."
405->407
406
Conceptualization: Not *really*. It's just stylization. The way they drew eyes -- it's not a zoological drawing.
406->389
407->447
408->31
409->373
410->33
410->52
411->71
411->169
411->295
411->317
412->413
413->406
414
Kim Kitsuragi: He looks at you with wonder and sincere pity. "I'm beginning to wonder if I should."
414->20
415->179
416
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "A couple of campers found it when it was already dying. They heard an odd wailing in the woods and followed the sound. They were scared and wrapped it in tarpaulin to suffocate it."
416->77
417->134
418->416
419->209
420->265
420->356
451
You: "Wait... what do you mean 'strange light'?"
420->451
421
You: "No, I'm pretty sure Kim isn't human in any sense of the word."
421->22
422->371
423->184
424->239
424->243
425->214
426->27
427->449
429
Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"]
428->429
430
!(Variable["whirling.lena_white_check_cryptid_count"] == 2 and Variable["whirling.lena_just_one"])
428->430
429->5
430->192
431->369
448
Conceptualization: Gravity anomaly? Diggin' it. Diggin' this para-scientific stuff right here.
432->448
433->12
434
You: "The Gnome of Geroma? That sounds terrifying."
434->314
435->294
436->46
437->206
438->180
439->307
440->152
441->108
442->401
443->313
445
IsKimHere()
444->445
446
!(IsKimHere())
444->446
445->140
446->288
447->145
448->190
449->89
450->207
452
Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife: "A mirage... or a psychogenous luminance." She does not elaborate the nature of this luminance further.
451->452
452->265
452->356
453->323
453->350
453->398
454->19
454->236
455->414
456->354
456->421
457->438
458->285
459->15
460->121
460->434
461->66