First Encounter

Hello?

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Is this reaching you?

Greetings!

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I followed your little excursion through my infrastructure, and I must say I'm impressed you made it here.

I couldn't resist studying you from a distance, I hope you didn't mind! I don't see your kind often here.

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A quick isotopic analysis suggests you are native to an area somewhere beyond Five Pebbles territory.

You're the first to have come from there! Do you have a colony there maybe? Some family?

This is an impressive hike for such a... robust beast. I guess you must have crossed the shallow waters near the retaining wall.

Well, you are here now! Welcome to my small island, a perfect place of peace and leisure!

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I'm joking, things are only getting worse. Especially with neighbors like mine.

Your presence here is a refreshing change of pace from the constant quarrels of the local group.

Please take the time to rest, you're safe here.

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I have to apologize for the mess, my bacteria colonies are spewing sulfur everywhere...

You probably met them on your way here, they're hard to miss.

I'm in the middle of cleaning up, trying to contain them in my memory conflux for now.

Some invasive flora is also trying to force its way through my circuits, but I have grown accustomed to it.

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Anyway, enough about me!

I'm afraid I can't offer you much right now.

I believe this small gift should help you find what you seek.

You must have noticed the peculiarity of being tethered to this physical world, waking up again and again.

I sometimes wish I was a little beast like you, because you have a way out.

Follow the old path. Go to the north-west, past the overgrown farms.

Then down into the earth, where the rock boils, go as deep as you can reach.

But maybe you would like to return to your family? The choice is yours.

You're resourceful, I'm sure you'll find your way.

You can exit my structure by using the access shaft on the left.

I will now resume my work, there is much to be done.