Bulletin: Downtime 1

A cleanly-written note lies pinned on the bulletin board, with a fine script perfected over years of military discipline.

To all residents of the Bastion,

I would like to congratulate you all on your good work between last meeting and now. While there is still much to do, we have made great strides, especially with regards to repairs and scientific endeavours. Of course, a special commendation goes out to the brave members of our Patrol, who have once again bravely put themselves in the line of duty to ensure the continued safety and prosperity of the Bastion.

Gratitude to:

• Eddy and Tristan for stabilising the communications tower
• Grant, I and Annette for their supply expedition
• Devo, Strangeness, Raindrop and Nio for their forest expedition
• Juno for continued work on bolstering our defensive capabilities
• Salithra for keeping us fed
• Dr. Chambers for her continued efforts in education
• Vice Captain Mars, Shansa and Eris for running the Patrols
• Chief Medic Naomi, Medic Guneir and Medic Coerna for keeping us healthy

However, do not rest on your laurels. As will be discussed, there is still much more we can do to keep civilisation running. Despite that, make sure you're giving yourselves some time to relax as well. Don't forget to work, but also don't forget to live a little.

Signing off, Chris R. Lincoln

Unusually, there is no notice from Medic Naomi.

Passing by the main notice board after the meeting, you might have a look at the most central object.

Just like all the months that have already passed, this week brings a new set of tasks; finite, countable, yet seemingly never ending. And exactly like every time before, this list is carefully written on a many-times-reused piece of card, with pencil-ghosts faintly blurring the lines of the past and future.

It notes everything that needs doing, on top of the standard maintenance of the camp:

• Replace rat-chewed wires
• Replace rotting tent beam
• Create better fix for the leak in the infirmary
• Restack firewood (there is a note next to this saying “Anyone except Clark”)
• Clean and repair weapons

Separate from the list there are two notes:

“The pylon tower is at risk of collapse, meet beside the tower 5 days from [meeting just gone] if you have any skills that could help secure it”

And…

“If adding more tasks to the list, please write lightly, thank you”

Appended from the meeting is a list of things that Lottie would normally do, the handwriting is less crisp than before.

• Strip metal plating from substation
• Repair faulty short-range comms
• Salvage broken short range comms
• Continue making antennae

The pencil dangles thoughtlessly to the side, attached to a frayed rope.

Greetings friends and colleagues! Another week of Chef’s Notices from me.

Don’t the blackbirds just sing so sweetly this time of year? They seem a little quieter this week, but perhaps they are all off enjoying the sunshine.

I have baked a new batch of your favourite cookies! They will be available this week (and successive batches in the following weeks) – make sure to drop in to the fire pit between 0900 and 2000 hours to receive your share in return for mandatory arm and leg checks!

Please also note that we currently have a shortage of oranges due to a blighted harvest. Make sure to protect against possible vitamin C deficiency by eating plenty of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, as included in this week’s menu.

This week, we will be making the most of the summer months with a great range of tasty foraged greens and (if available) fresh game.

As is customary, the full menu for the upcoming week will be posted later on bulletin. This is what I have so far, pending inventory of fresh supplies:

As always, make sure to let me know if you have any questions about the menu, or any new dietary concerns.

Keep your hopes up, keep your heads high, and remember: without challenge, there is no purpose! May we all follow in Fiadh’s footsteps.

Yours in respect, Salithra Anth’reyl

A small note is tacked onto the bottom.

We have carrots as well! - Rhys

The first notice is driven straight into the wall of the substation under the Bulletin Board. It is on a sheet of fresh, clean paper. It is several pages long. These are the important ones:

I do apologise for the cancellation of yesterday’s classes. Rest assured they shall resume today.

As a token of my apology, on top of your existing classes, I am pleased to introduce two new subjects to the curriculum:

Our wonderful, superfluous Chief Z-Medic Naomi pointed out to me yesterday the practical applications that a basic understanding of trigonometry might yield. I must say that I whole-heartedly agree with her, and in fact would go further to say that with an advanced understanding, there’s no telling what our away teams might be able to calculate. Hence, on her instruction, I am beginning a new trigonometry class at 8am every other morning. Seeing as this comes upon the advice of the knowledgeable Naomi herself, I shall be treating this subject as mandatory for all away teams.

Raindrop has pointed out to me that there seems to be an acute lack of firearms knowledge amongst the new Bastion residents. As such, I shall be inviting a guest lecturer to carry out important basic training to rectify this. This subject shall be treated as mandatory for all residents arriving in the past year. To ensure this training does not clash with other classes, this shall take place at 5am in 3 days’ time.

I have been very disappointed with attendance recently, especially to mandatory classes. Remember that a good education is vitally important if we wish to thrive as an isolated society!

- Dr. K. Chambers

And another.

And you know who liked triangles? Pythagoras? And you know what Pythagoras is? Dead. You know what else is dead? Zombies. We're onto something here guys.

- Clark Tent

Yet another, this one unsigned.

The rule of three is a crucial principle: this so many of our cultures and faiths agree upon. It runs through the Myths of the Eirs, where the only rules are the structures of storytelling, the freedom-in-rigour of myth. There are three Time Keepers, and three Goddesses of Sea, Sky and Soil. There are three understandings of the origins and nature of beauty in Bausana.

The schumblr posts of ‘Pythagoras’ (a name out of space and time) got some way to proving these connections, before his untimely demise, at the age of 30. I have perused printed-out copies of them, worn by rain and mud. His death is not worthy of mockery. He had a part of the way. Beauty in proportion. A triangular gateway to truth. But he disregarded the complimentary beauty in disorder. In the strangeness we cannot name.

Trigonometry is important. Sacred, even. But for those of us venturing across the threshold into the death-infested night, weapons training is perhaps more so. Might I suggest that 5am is not a safe time to be learning to fire dangerous weaponry? Perhaps the times might be inverted? The early hours of the morning are clearly a better time to interpret the sacred truths of the triangle, when our brains are part way between sleeping and waking, part way through the three-sided door?

A fourth, completing the trifecta.

A very thoughtful reflection, though, of course, flawed: our aim is not to train with dangerous weaponry, but to make them safer and as a result, so the Bastion. Hence, this is a perfect activity to synchronise with the sacred truths of the triangle.

The rule of three, as you mention, is of paramount importance everywhere in nature. I myself have written a paper on the topic in years past. A very acute observation.

Class at 5am.

– Dr. K. Chambers

A scrap of cloth torn from a shirt is pinned to the Bulletin. Something is scrawled on it. It is unsigned.

34°12'33.5"N 135°18'43.9"E

[OC Note: These coordinates pertain to an IC location for the context of this game. There is no clue or concealed information that is useful IC as a result of finding the OC place found at these coordinates.]