!! PLEASE NOTE !! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This series of Post-Epilogue projects primarily provides context for the short periods of activity serving as a prelude to Candleworld's ultimate conclusion, and isn't necessary to understand the main body of the story! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I've noticed that more and more frequently new people have been joining the CandleWorld ARG, and we've had to provide a messier and more confusing explanation every time. So I decided to make this to use until we have something better! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CONTINUING FROM PART 1 (M-Xalbriss has returned to the Abstract) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= About two Hedrocillian months (or a few centuries, in their perception) after they departed, M-Xalbriss returned from the Abstract, still carrying the Pilgrim @-Coccinella as their guide. They seemed frightened that an enemy of theirs was close by. Pilgrims caught wind of this quickly, and went to greet them. The Pilgrim @Klicky_Kitty reconstituted Coccinella via a donation of (supposedly extremely scarce) Aetus, and the Pilgrim @Codeycat returned to apologize and attempt to use the Anti-Abstraction Machine again. The Machine was badly damaged, but with the help of its AI, Codeycat was able to emulate @Brd6147's Flow to connect to @Todeze's fish-Dodecahedron and carve a new derivative of @visea out of the Abstract, thus collapsing @Inkwell-Devourer. Codeycat and Inkwell's conversation following revealed M-Xalbriss's true goal and enemy. He had been exploring the Abstract in search of the dying SUN -- and, in turn, true death, believing it to be the only cure to the constant torment of those in the Abstract. There, death had been forgotten, and only a scale of "life to fish" remained. M-Xalbriss's enemy was an Aetal god who founded the cycle of sentimentality, and embodied experience itself. Codeycat and Inkwell resolved afterwards to strive to either to research the definition of death or convince M-Xalbriss that it didn't exist. Codeycat studied various cultural and philosophical perspectives of death and the afterlife, and brought back his findings soon afterward. This brought Inkwell to the realization that death had been erased with the universe's memories of it. With this, they had enough to help M-Xalbriss. But first, Inkwell required knitting, weaving, and crocheting tools that could "weave continuous patterns of differing colors and shapes" sourced from Pilgrims. Once he had what he needed, he and Codeycat approached M-Xalbriss, offering to help them find death. M-Xalbriss rejected this, rambling and insisting that the pair had been manipulated into forcing them into action by their enemy, who sought to conquer "the derivation of us all." As their paranoia grew, and Inkwell and Codeycat continued to insist that they meant to help, M-Xalbriss attempted attacked Inkwell with light from their eye and said that the two of them would have to tell it to their fished body. Codeycat responded that M-Xalbriss was lost, before resolving to defend themself and Inkwell non-lethally from M-Xalbriss. As the three engaged in combat, Pilgrim influence and perception was once again cut off, leaving the outcome of the battle uncertain until its end. By the end of the battle, M-Xalbriss was defeated, despite exerting their Parthult influence to its fullest extent. Puddles of Aetus and broken stars covered the ground, and Inkwell and Codeycat both showed signs of having been fished. Inkwell told the despairing M-Xalbriss to rest as he began to weave a thread construct, incorporating and @-Coccinella's Aetus flows into it and pulling the concept of the SUN closer. M-Xalbriss urgently began to convulse with Candlewhistle in an effort to stave off the SUN's approach, but it had no effect. The SUN arrived, guarded by a powerful entity -- The Marquess. She expressed anger over her enforced arrival, and as Inkwell attempted to explain, he was cut down and fished further. M-Xalbriss, terrified that the story they were trying to avoid had advanced and of the Marquess about to remove them, destroyed their equipment in a last-ditch effort. It released mass amounts of strange light, seeping into the Marquess and the Pilgrims' Aetus. As the entities sank into the Abstract once more, a whirl of energy entered the SUN, and a final invocation of law fractured the air with pink light before beginning to dilate time. For more resources related to CandleWorld, visit the Extras project: Thank you for your patience! [Thanks to for their artwork featured in the background of this project!]
