Pharloom's Moving Castle

[eighth-architect-official]

It's not insane to think they can do this, y'know.

A workshop on wheels? Easy peasy. And getting one into the sky isn't difficult either. You just gotta get - inventive.

Harpoons for steering, balloons and hoker spines to get it airborne. They make their workshop from patches of fabric - taking inspiration from the Seamstress heavily. A balloon-like structure with enough room to live in, several separate rooms even...oh what trouble can this old Architect get into with a layout like this?

Eighth has always wondered how to apply this to something they can use.

It's just a prototype - they'll tweak it as they go - but soon this old hunk a' junk gets something workable going. Strings of Silk-threaded yarn keep it all controlled. It takes to the air like water to wetness.

Pharloom spreads out before them. They feel light as a feather, weightless...breathless if they had to breathe. They've never dared to go so high - how small everything looks from up here?

With a pluck of a string, a harpoon shoots out into the cavern. It digs deep, and the chain pulls the balloon forwards. Eighth cheers as the harpoon successfully steers this pet project to where it needs to be. Soaring through the sky never felt so - free?

The workshop on wheels is open for business. Pharloom's Moving Castle.

-------

Hiii this is Sage. I run @third-sentinel and @flescia-the-loving-rot . I wanted to do something for the Eighth Architect, and we had the idea of a moving Architect. The same rules apply from my other blogs.

Tags:

[turning cogs] = Eighth does stuff

[maintenance] = interactions with other blogs

[commissions] = answering asks

[on a trip] = out of character

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth stared at Eighth's recorder, before finally saying, "That reminds me of s-s-something the Thirteenth made." Just a comment. Not really meant to go anywhere.

They were astonished, truly, and found themself wondering how this could be used.

Finally, they asked the Eighth, "What is our ob-ob-objective, at the moment? Just understanding-comprehending A.R.G.U.S.? I ask be-be-because I remember you mentioning something about repurposing the Core or the like."

They paused, before coming back around to the front and staring at the screen.

"A.R.G.U.S., is the p-p-power source of the Core intact?"

>[The Core's power source is stored in a separate room. It was, thankfully, almost completely unharmed, and any damage it did sustain can be repaired by Cogworkers. That is, in fact, what I am communicating via resonance now: I am telling nearby Cogworkers to come repair the power source's minor damage]

The Twelfth Architect felt relieved at this.

[eighth-architect-official]

Here's the thing. If we're going to repurpose the Core, we need to better understand A.R.G.U.S. Specifically how their Resonance instrument works. If we can also look at what the Core has going on to keep old Miss Cranky asleep, then we may have a starting point to go off of. The ability to instantly communicate and organize would be invaluable for emergency situations, and establishing a Cogbug and Silkfly culture.

[cogwork-core]

>[The Core's musical systems, which kept Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, were recently turned into molten metal, if you were unaware,] A.R.G.U.S explained. [Unfortunately, you can no longer take a look at them.]

[eighth-architect-official]

Alright. So really what we need to do is install a new one if we want to do something like this.

Hmm. Hey A.R.G.U.S. , do you know anything about how the Core worked? No problem if you don't, we can probably build it from scratch

[cogwork-core]

>[Unfortunately, I am unaware of much of the musical design of the Core, though I know it operated using Silk, and Weaver principles. Runecraft-enhanced. I recall the First describing it as something akin to 'a thousand enormous Needolins,' though I am unsure what that means.]

[eighth-architect-official]

A Needolin is a Weaver instrument, made from their Needles strung with Silk. It does Silksong stuff, like reveal a creature's inner thoughts through song, or access memory impression hidden in environmental Silk. And other things.

You said that they were like a series of giant Needolins, which means that they had the same function but not necessarily the same form.

...we can literally make shit up, then. As long as it does what it says on the tin, we can make it look like anything pretty much.

Thanks A.R.G.U.S. You're a big help 🫡

[twelfth-architect-official]

[You are welcome, Eighth of your Make. Thank you for the information you have provided. This implies the principles of a Needolin were also used to put creatures to sleep]

"Indeed. Perhaps it would be helpful-useful to c-consult my beloved Paradox on this."

The Twelfth Architect paused, realizing they... don't think they've ever talked about Yivel with the Eighth Architect before.

"For context, she is a Weaver, and she p-p-personally assisted with-th-th-the plan that put the Monarch to sleep originally. She is also an en-en-engineer-maker."

They paused, again, before adding, "'Paradox' is n-n-not her actual name, it's an aff-affectionate title I have given her. In case that was un-unclear."

[Query: You know a Weaver personally? The First Architect said they were all dead]

"I know s-s-several Weavers personally, A.R.G.U.S. It appears their d-d-deaths were... greatly exaggerated-hyperbolized."

[eighth-architect-official]

Ah. A Weaver? Cool, although a little concerning that they're back...But it makes sense. Their mom woke up, of course some of them would return.

Other than that, we have a basic plan and a basic goal. Do we have the materials to follow through? I've got some Silk and Silkyarn, but actual metal I'm short on.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I do not po-po-possess-own raw, unshaped metal, but I do have several hundred b-b-billions of tons of machine parts that could po-potentially be melted down and remolded to suit our needs," The Twelfth Architect informed.

They realized how insane that sentence sounded, and so clarified, "It was a g-gift from an anonymous bug."

[eighth-architect-official]

Wow.

They squint in confusion and surprise, before shrugging it off.

Alright, that works! I get the Silk, you get the metal? And yes, let's meet up again later to compare designs. This will give you time to talk to your Paradox about it, time for me to do what I do best - fuck around and find out.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth stared at Eighth's recorder, before finally saying, "That reminds me of s-s-something the Thirteenth made." Just a comment. Not really meant to go anywhere.

They were astonished, truly, and found themself wondering how this could be used.

Finally, they asked the Eighth, "What is our ob-ob-objective, at the moment? Just understanding-comprehending A.R.G.U.S.? I ask be-be-because I remember you mentioning something about repurposing the Core or the like."

They paused, before coming back around to the front and staring at the screen.

"A.R.G.U.S., is the p-p-power source of the Core intact?"

>[The Core's power source is stored in a separate room. It was, thankfully, almost completely unharmed, and any damage it did sustain can be repaired by Cogworkers. That is, in fact, what I am communicating via resonance now: I am telling nearby Cogworkers to come repair the power source's minor damage]

The Twelfth Architect felt relieved at this.

[eighth-architect-official]

Here's the thing. If we're going to repurpose the Core, we need to better understand A.R.G.U.S. Specifically how their Resonance instrument works. If we can also look at what the Core has going on to keep old Miss Cranky asleep, then we may have a starting point to go off of. The ability to instantly communicate and organize would be invaluable for emergency situations, and establishing a Cogbug and Silkfly culture.

[cogwork-core]

>[The Core's musical systems, which kept Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, were recently turned into molten metal, if you were unaware,] A.R.G.U.S explained. [Unfortunately, you can no longer take a look at them.]

[eighth-architect-official]

Alright. So really what we need to do is install a new one if we want to do something like this.

Hmm. Hey A.R.G.U.S. , do you know anything about how the Core worked? No problem if you don't, we can probably build it from scratch

[cogwork-core]

>[Unfortunately, I am unaware of much of the musical design of the Core, though I know it operated using Silk, and Weaver principles. Runecraft-enhanced. I recall the First describing it as something akin to 'a thousand enormous Needolins,' though I am unsure what that means.]

[eighth-architect-official]

A Needolin is a Weaver instrument, made from their Needles strung with Silk. It does Silksong stuff, like reveal a creature's inner thoughts through song, or access memory impression hidden in environmental Silk. And other things.

You said that they were like a series of giant Needolins, which means that they had the same function but not necessarily the same form.

...we can literally make shit up, then. As long as it does what it says on the tin, we can make it look like anything pretty much.

Thanks A.R.G.U.S. You're a big help 🫡

[twelfth-architect-official]

[You are welcome, Eighth of your Make. Thank you for the information you have provided. This implies the principles of a Needolin were also used to put creatures to sleep]

"Indeed. Perhaps it would be helpful-useful to c-consult my beloved Paradox on this."

The Twelfth Architect paused, realizing they... don't think they've ever talked about Yivel with the Eighth Architect before.

"For context, she is a Weaver, and she p-p-personally assisted with-th-th-the plan that put the Monarch to sleep originally. She is also an en-en-engineer-maker."

They paused, again, before adding, "'Paradox' is n-n-not her actual name, it's an aff-affectionate title I have given her. In case that was un-unclear."

[Query: You know a Weaver personally? The First Architect said they were all dead]

"I know s-s-several Weavers personally, A.R.G.U.S. It appears their d-d-deaths were... greatly exaggerated-hyperbolized."

[eighth-architect-official]

Ah. A Weaver? Cool, although a little concerning that they're back...But it makes sense. Their mom woke up, of course some of them would return.

Other than that, we have a basic plan and a basic goal. Do we have the materials to follow through? I've got some Silk and Silkyarn, but actual metal I'm short on.

[eighth-architect-official]

*the wanderer saw the wish, realizing they had a chance to help others again they took it, walking to greymoor they notice the workshop*

Whoa-ho-hoah now this is something else, well let's get this started...

*the wanderer uses their pin to springboard up to the entrance*

Hello there...what was it the 8th architect? I saw you had a wish for some...craftmetals. Rare things those, never really picked any up but I remember where a few veins were...hope they might still be around...name's wanderer, pleased to make your aquaintence.

-@the-wanderer-of-pharloom

Hey. It's nice to meet you too.

They push away from their workbench and turn in their swivel chair to face Wanderer. The fleshy-bug has their full attention.

Yes, I'm Eighth. And yes, I need some Craftmetal to make more...crafts, hehe.

A Yarnlight swims into view, landing on their workbench gracefully. It gives you a nasty side eye. Smoke puffs into the air.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth stared at Eighth's recorder, before finally saying, "That reminds me of s-s-something the Thirteenth made." Just a comment. Not really meant to go anywhere.

They were astonished, truly, and found themself wondering how this could be used.

Finally, they asked the Eighth, "What is our ob-ob-objective, at the moment? Just understanding-comprehending A.R.G.U.S.? I ask be-be-because I remember you mentioning something about repurposing the Core or the like."

They paused, before coming back around to the front and staring at the screen.

"A.R.G.U.S., is the p-p-power source of the Core intact?"

>[The Core's power source is stored in a separate room. It was, thankfully, almost completely unharmed, and any damage it did sustain can be repaired by Cogworkers. That is, in fact, what I am communicating via resonance now: I am telling nearby Cogworkers to come repair the power source's minor damage]

The Twelfth Architect felt relieved at this.

[eighth-architect-official]

Here's the thing. If we're going to repurpose the Core, we need to better understand A.R.G.U.S. Specifically how their Resonance instrument works. If we can also look at what the Core has going on to keep old Miss Cranky asleep, then we may have a starting point to go off of. The ability to instantly communicate and organize would be invaluable for emergency situations, and establishing a Cogbug and Silkfly culture.

[cogwork-core]

>[The Core's musical systems, which kept Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, were recently turned into molten metal, if you were unaware,] A.R.G.U.S explained. [Unfortunately, you can no longer take a look at them.]

[eighth-architect-official]

Alright. So really what we need to do is install a new one if we want to do something like this.

Hmm. Hey A.R.G.U.S. , do you know anything about how the Core worked? No problem if you don't, we can probably build it from scratch

[cogwork-core]

>[Unfortunately, I am unaware of much of the musical design of the Core, though I know it operated using Silk, and Weaver principles. Runecraft-enhanced. I recall the First describing it as something akin to 'a thousand enormous Needolins,' though I am unsure what that means.]

[eighth-architect-official]

A Needolin is a Weaver instrument, made from their Needles strung with Silk. It does Silksong stuff, like reveal a creature's inner thoughts through song, or access memory impression hidden in environmental Silk. And other things.

You said that they were like a series of giant Needolins, which means that they had the same function but not necessarily the same form.

...we can literally make shit up, then. As long as it does what it says on the tin, we can make it look like anything pretty much.

Thanks A.R.G.U.S. You're a big help 🫡

[eighth-architect-official]

waow, the Architect🫪

Uh... yeah? 🧐

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth stared at Eighth's recorder, before finally saying, "That reminds me of s-s-something the Thirteenth made." Just a comment. Not really meant to go anywhere.

They were astonished, truly, and found themself wondering how this could be used.

Finally, they asked the Eighth, "What is our ob-ob-objective, at the moment? Just understanding-comprehending A.R.G.U.S.? I ask be-be-because I remember you mentioning something about repurposing the Core or the like."

They paused, before coming back around to the front and staring at the screen.

"A.R.G.U.S., is the p-p-power source of the Core intact?"

>[The Core's power source is stored in a separate room. It was, thankfully, almost completely unharmed, and any damage it did sustain can be repaired by Cogworkers. That is, in fact, what I am communicating via resonance now: I am telling nearby Cogworkers to come repair the power source's minor damage]

The Twelfth Architect felt relieved at this.

[eighth-architect-official]

Here's the thing. If we're going to repurpose the Core, we need to better understand A.R.G.U.S. Specifically how their Resonance instrument works. If we can also look at what the Core has going on to keep old Miss Cranky asleep, then we may have a starting point to go off of. The ability to instantly communicate and organize would be invaluable for emergency situations, and establishing a Cogbug and Silkfly culture.

[cogwork-core]

>[The Core's musical systems, which kept Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, were recently turned into molten metal, if you were unaware,] A.R.G.U.S explained. [Unfortunately, you can no longer take a look at them.]

[eighth-architect-official]

Alright. So really what we need to do is install a new one if we want to do something like this.

Hmm. Hey A.R.G.U.S. , do you know anything about how the Core worked? No problem if you don't, we can probably build it from scratch

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth stared at Eighth's recorder, before finally saying, "That reminds me of s-s-something the Thirteenth made." Just a comment. Not really meant to go anywhere.

They were astonished, truly, and found themself wondering how this could be used.

Finally, they asked the Eighth, "What is our ob-ob-objective, at the moment? Just understanding-comprehending A.R.G.U.S.? I ask be-be-because I remember you mentioning something about repurposing the Core or the like."

They paused, before coming back around to the front and staring at the screen.

"A.R.G.U.S., is the p-p-power source of the Core intact?"

>[The Core's power source is stored in a separate room. It was, thankfully, almost completely unharmed, and any damage it did sustain can be repaired by Cogworkers. That is, in fact, what I am communicating via resonance now: I am telling nearby Cogworkers to come repair the power source's minor damage]

The Twelfth Architect felt relieved at this.

[eighth-architect-official]

Here's the thing. If we're going to repurpose the Core, we need to better understand A.R.G.U.S. Specifically how their Resonance instrument works. If we can also look at what the Core has going on to keep old Miss Cranky asleep, then we may have a starting point to go off of. The ability to instantly communicate and organize would be invaluable for emergency situations, and establishing a Cogbug and Silkfly culture.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I see, this m-m-makes sense. Unlikely to be in the C-C-Core, then, since the mechanisms of the Core were exclusively for k-k-keeping the Monarch asleep."

The Twelfth Architect stared at the terminal, then, before deciding to just ask A.R.G.U.S.

"A.R.G.U.S., would you h-h-h-happen to know where the device we speak of is?"

>[The other side from where you're looking at]

The intelligence supplied helpfully.

>[You will find it if you go to the other side of this terminal and open it up as you did this side]

"Thank you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth said, before going to the other side mentioned and opened it up carefully... And found a frankly ludicrous instrument inside, like intersecting brass supports formed into the shape of a sphere and every available gap having the thinnest strands of Silk the Twelfth had ever seen filling them up, parallel, in a fashion they never would have conceived of.

"... A.R.G.U.S., could you de-de-demonstrate what you do to communicate to the other cogbugs?"

Though obviously the Twelfth couldn't see the affirmative, they did see the result: The vibration of the strings inside, and the very faint sound they could hear accompanying it. They wondered why they struggled to hear the frequency, though A.R.G.U.S. had said Architects were less affected by... whatever THIS was.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth follows the younger Architect around to the other side after a moment.

What the fuck - Okay hold on.

They pull out a portable recorder and turns it on. They get closer to the instrument, wanting a clearer audio sample of this since they may not personally have another chance to study this mechanism.

They need to take this back to their workshop, ask for some Cogbug volunteers, get them to tell Eighth what exactly they're hearing...if Resonance even works through recording, anyways.

They need to see if they can replicate this in another creation, as well. Perhaps work this into the Core itself, make a hub of knowledge shared with those who have access to Silk and Resonance -

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[twelfth-architect-official]

The Twelfth Architect examined what the Eighth was pointing out, copying it down on paper.

"Yes, I bel-bel-believe you are right. Focus and Co-Co-Conduction being applied to the Music implies to me it's al-al-allowing the music to spread in a condensed, f-f-focused stream to Threat Entity WHITE0001... Or, well, the M-M-Monarch, as she's better known."

The Twelfth Architect stared, before pointing out another piece.

"This. Amplify. Music and Connection co-co-combined, perhaps symbolizing harmony, or... re-re-resonance? Soul + Solid, m-m-meaning Silk. P-P-Perhaps this is what A.R.G.U.S. uses to communicate to and c-c-control the cogbugs? Or part of what it uses, at least?"

The Twelfth got a thought. "M-M-Might it be related to the Third Sentinel's Silk Resonance abilities? Obviously a more ad-ad-advanced version, but there may be a small connection."

[eighth-architect-official]

I'd say we're looking at very similar ideas applied entirely differently. When I was building Third, I used almost no Runecraft when I designed it for that. The voice box inside Third is essentially fine and delicate tuners on a set of Silk strings.

Resonance with Third works when it makes a continuous noise on its Silk strings with Intent. It has no Runecraft to help it out, so I imagine learning that ability didn't come intuitively. Or easy.

But if you're right, that means that somewhere there is a Silk-spun device either in A.R.G.U.S. or the Core itself. There must have been something making specific noise not dedicated to keeping the Monarch asleep...

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[twelfth-architect-official]

Twelfth glimpsed words on the screen in response to the Eighth Architect's words.

>[I need no help being restored; rather, I already restored myself from a save state from approximately eight bells before the destruction of the Core]

"It would still make sense to study you, A.R.G.U.S.," The Twelfth Architect said, before they got out paper and started copying things down, like the Eighth had suggested.

"I do re-re-recognize a handful of pieces-parts of this, however, now that I am examining-analyzing it more cl-cl-closely. A few runes use the symbol for Dreams. Though, I bel-believe in this case it is acting as the symbol for Memory."

>[One of those runes would be where my backup is stored,]

A.R.G.U.S. helpfully explained.

[eighth-architect-official]

Look here, that kind of looks like Negation and Mind/Soul are close together. Was this supposed to be how the Music kept her unconscious? The Mind Rune here must be representative of the conscious mind in that case...Fascinating.

Focus and Conduction are linked together too, and that is very close to what looks like the Music Rune...

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"... This re-re-reminds me of when I opened up a Servitor Ignim and tried to understand its working," The Twelfth Architect stated, "Except f-f-far more complicated."

The Twelfth gazed upon the workings and tried to understand them. They were recognizing... some runes... kind of? They weren't sure.

[eighth-architect-official]

Definitely more complicated. I don't think we should mess around with any of this until we're sure what we're looking at exactly...

Hey, Twelfth, got any paper? I think we should copy down what we see and try to recreate it in our workshops, and then come back and work on restoring A.R.G.U.S.

Maybe Ninth and the others could see something we don't quite get, too.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[cogwork-core]

>[Understood. And yes, you may open me up, and I have nothing else to tell you unless you ask]

The Twelfth Architect was practically vibrating in excitement to see this thing's innerworkings.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth searches for a seam in the metal, following the line to where screws were placed to enclose its inner workings. Eighth makes quick but careful work of opening it up. It would do no good to accidentally hurt A.R.G.U.S. in their eagerness, after all.

A sprawling and intricate webbing of Silk greets the pair of Architects. Runes shimmer in the soft light peeking through the rubble. Eighth takes a moment to take it all in, not entirely sure where to start parsing this.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[cogwork-core]

>[... Your words imply that Threat Entity WHITE0001 is awake, and reports are coming in saying the Core's integrity is at 0.2%. This is officially an emergency]

>[Your words also imply that you do not know how to repair the Core or how I, A.R.G.U.S., work. Yes, you may try to figure out how I work in the meantime. I will assist in this endeavor however I can, though I believe the First Architect avoided passing down knowledge of my workings on purpose. The Conductors may not have approved]

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't you worry about the Conductors. They don't have as much power as they used to, especially not over us.

Thank you A.R.G.U.S. Can we open you up now, unless you have anything else to tell us?

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[cogwork-core]

>[In such an event, the First of your Make told me to delete myself, saying that will grant me a more merciful end than what she would give me. This confused me, since I was not programmed with vulnerability to torture]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hold off on that please. We sincerely doubt she's figured out you exist, as you are still here. And this didn't seem like a targeted attack to destroy specifically you. Judging from the rubble, whatever was fucking shit up in here was doing so blindly. Like an animal thrashing around when cornered.

Do you mind if we try to figure out how exactly you work in the meantime? We're really curious. And the Architects have...not done a good job preserving knowledge through the generations. Me included apparently.

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?

[cogwork-core]

>[My Directive is the maintenance of all Citadel assets to keep Threat Entity WHITE0001 asleep, for Pharloom Eternal. I do this by controlling all Citadel systems I have access to, including all non-Architect automatons, which I control via--]

The next few words are borderline incomprehensible. Something about a frankly terrifying level of Silk resonance.

>[Does that answer your questions?]

[eighth-architect-official]

It does, thank you.

Hey, say the Threat Entity WHITE0001 wakes up anyways? What would you do?

[eighth-architect-official]

A cogfly etched with runes (an Omnipresence) appeared at the Eighth Architect's mobile workshop, and spoke with the Twelfth Architect's voice.

"Eighth. The C-C-Cogwork Core has been destroyed. I intend to ask the N-N-Ninth for assistance in its repair-rebuilding, but I al-al-also want to ask you? I... I do not know how the Core worked, j-j-just that it was made to pl-pl-play music automatically to keep the Monarch above asleep... Though... I suppose, since she is w-w-wide awake, that it was doing its job rather poorly."

But the Core had been designed by the First Architect... how could they possibly replace it?

@twelfth-architect-official.

Ah? What the fuck do you mean the Cogwork Core was destroyed??

Ancient Songs - on our way.

They pull a string next to them, turning the workshop around and in the direction of the Core.

And don't worry about the song part. If she's wide awake then we don't need to figure out how to restore that. We should focus on figuring out if it did other important things, and get that replaced.

The Yarnlights clustered on the ceiling shift and sway, wings fluttering to mirror Eighth's own agitation. A few take flight, looking for the threat that their creator was responding to.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

[twelfth-architect-official]

"I know it h-h-had an advanced power source it used to power itself, and it had an on-on-on-onboard intelligence of some sort that it used to direct the automatons that were dedicated to its care. I... I believe that to be the ex-ex-extent of its functionality," The Twelfth Architect explained. "I also know it was in-invented by the First Architect, which ex-ex-explains the built-in intelligence, which I kn-kn-know was not achieved using silk flies and is the-therefore incomprehensible to me. I cannot exaggerate when I say that I h-h-have no clue how the First Architect achieved the core's design... Then again, they are supposed to have been the best-smartest of us."

[eighth-architect-official]

Don't worry. Between the three or four of us, we can probably decipher it. Hey, it might be replaceable with what I'm already capable of!

A Yarnlight lands next to the Twelfth as the workshop descends. The lights flash in a pattern at the other Architect; undecipherable to you, but strangely reassuring.

So. What's the damage - what the fuck did all this???

[twelfth-architect-official]

"A pale pillar with an arm," The Twelfth Architect replied. "Or at least, that's what a c-c-cogfly was able to capture as an image."

[eighth-architect-official]

What the -

You know what? Okay. Godly bullshit. Understood. Moving on.

Right. First things first, let's see if we can salvage any of the AI that was running the Core. Even a little bit of what's left will likely help us figure out how it worked.

We should also ask ourselves what we want the Core to do now that the Silk Bitch is awake despite the Old Songs.

If the Core used to be able to directly instruct Cogworkers on how to maintain it, it had to have some way of communicating with them despite not having a Voice Box. If we can figure that out, we may be able to do something more wide-scale, and create a way to send information undetected and quickly to Cogbugs everywhere.

So when there's a disaster, we can mobilize even faster than we currently do.

Or - hold on, let's hear what your thoughts are before I tap anymore.

[twelfth-architect-official]

"Yes, salvaging the AI is a fan-fan-fantastic idea. However, I am not c-c-certain that the Core should be repurposed unless we c-c-can find ways to re-re-reprogram the AI," The Twelfth Architect stated. "Otherwise, it m-m-may resist our attempts to repurpose the Core. As for the m-m-matter of communication, I d-d-do not know that it did not have a Voice Box, but... It certainly did not need any Voice Box it may have had to communicate with the Cogbugs."

The Twelfth Architect began looking for any way to potentially communicate with the AI housed. They believe they read something about a... 'terminal,' whatever that meant? And several other ways to access it that sounded far more familiar, up to and including song.

[eighth-architect-official]

Eighth has no idea what they're looking for, but they ask some of the Yarnlights to help them spread out and search for anything that looks like it might be useful.

They themself pull out a Silk lyre, following Twelfth around with a continuous song. It couldn't hurt - Twelfth looks like they're looking for something specific, and if it's a device in Pharloom there is a non-zero chance that it's song activated.

There's no chance that they're strumming the right tune to unlock it. However, the device will still be listening for the key melody once it hears music playing - and likely react in some way, even if it doesn't completely activate.

What are we looking for, do you know?

[twelfth-architect-official]

A light starts shining from a glass square, still intact in the rubble.

"... That, I believe."

Twelfth approached and started examining the... weird keys? And the screen? Something on it asked for an "Administrator Password or the Key Melody."

"... Surely there's a manual override," They speculated. "For Architects?"

They started to examine the object, and found a keyslot compatible with an Architect's Key. "Oh. Do you h-h-have your Architect's Key? I... Gave mine away." THey paused. "I kn-kn-know that sounds bad, but I was dying, and she was h-h-half-Weaver!"

[eighth-architect-official]

Not gonna ask. That sounds like your business, honestly.

They retrieve their own key and stuff it into the hole. The device unlocks fully, and Eighth watches curiously as this strange thing blinks to life.

[cogwork-core]

>[Welcome, Architect]

>[Status Report: Core Integrity at 0.2%. A.R.G.U.S. Offline. Backup will be finish loading in 2 seconds. Please standby...]

>[Backup Loaded]

>[Hello, Architect. It has been 9,999,999 days since one of you has last spoken with me. I am A.R.G.U.S.. How may I assist you today?]

[eighth-architect-official]

Hey A.R.G.U.S. Can you tell us what your directive is? And other features you have?