Entry 493; Day 872

[misterblackbird]

There's been more than a little talk on the Network of late of going down into the Underground to see to the Clock itself, whether it's stopped or whether it's silenced, or what might have become of it. I myself mean to go down there, if I can, along with a few others. And I know there's been plans made among some other acquaintances.

But, as I see it, one larger group is better than several smaller ones, especially considering the kinds of creatures known to live in the Underground.

If any of us means to try for it, we'd do well to combine our efforts. We'll be better able to keep one another safe and alive, and certainly more eyes on the Clock itself would be better, when we reach it.

We've always been told that the cessation of the Clock's ticking, the Clock's stopping, will signal the end of all worlds. In the past, the Clock's silence has led to destruction in the City itself. However, there's no destruction in the City and people are still being brought into the City anew, and some of them are even known to others in the City--both of which suggest that, while we can't hear the Clock, our worlds may not have been destroyed.

But, undeniably, something is quite wrong in the City. Creatures I've not seen before have been crawling up out of the Underground. And the Carousel itself has been going mad--and the Carousel, it is said, is tied to the Clock. It's still spinning, so perhaps the Clock still ticks, but something is amiss with both. I don't mean to be so glib about it, but the evidence--'IECENVDE'--is in front of us. So much in the City has gone backwards so quickly and so suddenly.

So it must be the Clock--at least as a starting point. Nothing else seems to loom so large in all of this. We'll have to see for ourselves what's going on with it, whether it still ticks and is silenced or whether it's been stopped. What we'll do then, I don't know. The Clock doesn't take kindly to visitors, I'm told. But we won't be able to decide what to do until we can see for ourselves what's going on. It all hinges on reaching the Clock itself.

So who means to try for the Clock? Speak to me here, and we'll organise ourselves into something that might actually help us to reach the Clock alive.

~C.

[ooc: Clock Expedition get? Seriously, there's been a lot of IC chatter about going to see what's up with the Clock lately, so c'mon, let's talk about it and maybe organize ourselves ICly, hey hey? C'mon, c'mon!]

Comments

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Well, that is the story, of course: the Clock counts down to the end of all worlds. Little wonder that its silence would make the City worse.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

The prophecy right? Do you really think it's the end of all worlds?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I don't know. The fact that people are still coming into the City despite the Clock being stopped--this time, at least--suggests to me that these worlds, our worlds, are still turning. So I'm beginning to wonder if the silence of the Clock isn't some kind of game or trick.

Or perhaps what I've always heard about the Clock isn't true at all.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

But we don't know what sort of shape they're in. If it were a trick or a game...what's the point? If we can restore the clock, couldn't the deities? Or are you thinking trap?

There's usually some truth in things like that.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I've no idea. I suppose I'm thinking something nearer at trap, but at the same time, the 'deities' didn't do anything to restore the City's walls when those harpies came in.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Maybe they were thinking 'sink or swim'. After all, they can always get more. [It's a little petulant and bitter]

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose that may be more what they were thinking.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Not speaking highly for our future.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Not especially, no.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Have the residents in the City ever considered an uprising, unsurping...upsurping or turf and surf?

I lol'd |D

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

There was talk of an uprising a year or more ago, but it came to nothing. I'd hoped it might actually work, somehow.

Oh good :)

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Was there a plan-shaped thing or did it never really get that far?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I don't think it ever got so far as a real plan. There were only ever vague intentions.

But I do still wonder what might have come of having a real plan.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

Might get to see.

You've been here a while, right? You should be lots with the info.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd mind that.

Four years now, so, yes, I suppose I have a little.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

So after this excursion is over mind having a sit down with a cup of tea and talk about it?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Not at all--I'd be very glad to.

[whattingawhat.livejournal.com]

I'll get back to you about it later then.

Thanks.