Preseason
Audio Logs
"Lost Souls: Johannes" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Is anyone out there? Can anyone hear me?
Johannes: Is... is anyone out there? Can anyone hear me?
Johannes: I do not know how long I have been here. There are no days to count. Only an endless twilight...like a dream that keeps shifting whenever I try to focus on it.
Johannes: There are some strangely beautiful sights here... great, glowing gems, luminous creatures that float on the mist... but beauty means little when you are always being hunted.
Johannes: I should have never gone near that shimmering light. I never should have touched it. I thought it was a sign from God but... there is no God here. There is no God...
"Lost Souls: Mariska" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Dead men wander this land, feasting on the living. If you can call it living.
Mariska: In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Lord, it is me, Mariska. I do not know if my words reach you any more. I do not know if you care at all about the damned.
Mariska: For that is surely what I am. Damned. And I just want to know... why, Lord? What did I do to end up here?
Mariska: It is not the Hell I expected. No lake of fire. Only a cold, perpetual half-light that somehow seems even worse.
Mariska: Dead men wander this land, feasting on the living. If you can call it living. And I fear they may be...
Mariska: Lord, they are coming! I beg you, protect me. Deliver me from this place! I should not be here! I should not...
"Lost Souls: David" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - I've met quite a few others who got trapped here. Every time the question comes up: are we in Hell or not?
David: Okay... okay, okay, okay... think it through... reason it out...
David: I've met quite a few others who got trapped here like me. And every time -- every single time -- the question comes up: are we in Hell or not?
David: I mean, sure, this has to be Hell, right? Dead people, demons... fells as far from God as you can get.
David: I even thought I saw ghosts here. But now I'm thinking maybe they're just folks back home, and somehow I'm seeing them through the veil that separates our worlds.
David: Which brings me to the thought I just can't get out of my mind. What if... there is no Hell? What if this place is just a place?
"Lost Souls: Alice" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - This place is a hodgepodge of creatures and artifacts, a collision of cultures and eras... I've seen ancient storybook creatures and mechanical monsters...
Alice: I hope someone out there can hear this. I'm not quite certain this device even works.
Alice: You see, I'm a historian. I was touring ancient sites in Peru when it all went dark. Suddenly, I'm in this... jigsaw landscape...
Alice: This hodgepodge of creatures and artifacts... like a collision of cultures and eras.
Alice: I've seen medieval structures alongside twenty-first century buildings. I've seen ancient, storybook creatures and mechanical monsters straight from a science fiction novel.
Alice: And the thought I cannot seem to shake now is that the universe has a dumping ground for things that go bump in the night.
Alice: Others I've encountered assume this is Hell. But it's worse. It's the dustbin of history. It's the rubbish dump of time.
Alice: When the universe is through with you... this is your final stop.
"Lost Souls: Barbara" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Confession time... and this one's gonna sound a little nutzoid but stay with me...
Barbara: Confession time... and this one's gonna sound a little nutzoid, but stay with me. Please. Stay with me...
Barbara: So I've noticed that ever since I landed in this place, well, I've noticed some changes. In me. Physically. And -- hey, I am not crazy, do not call me crazy, but... mentally, too.
Barbara: Bad enough when my skin started to wither. I look part alligator. My nails are growing like crazy, and my teeth...
Barbara: What worries me more is... how calm I am about it. I mean, at first I panicked, but... the more I change, the less I mind.
Barbara: Plus, I am not as afraid of the things I run into. I even -- don't judge me. Don't you fucking judge me! -- I've... eaten one or two of them. I've gotta eat something--!
Barbara: Anyway, I don't know if it's the fog, or those glowy crystal things, but this place changes you. Not all at once, but... I don't think I could go back now, even if I knew how.
"Approach" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - It is coming.
There is no audio and no transcript.
Documents
"$!%()$3@!" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Content unknown. No available translation. Possibly a system error from the computer.
#$@$&) &%#!*(>*~}%<*>?:;=
?<-$@)
"I @N#B%D! O% T@#&" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Content Unknown. No available translation. The symbol arrangement seems almost intentional, it might not be a system error, but a scrambled message.
&!~>/";*!h:d)</$<]\0:@ Ja),":
5d*':kr ?/>+gh%#ater.
"Day 95" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Diary appears to be written by a stranger lost in a strange land, possibly a human trapped in the Dark Aether.
Day 95: Trying hard to keep track of how long I have been here. Strange, fractured land.
Food and water not easy to find, but have enough for now. Ammunition more of a concern.
Distress call best hope for rescue. Will start gathering electronics. Saw some while looking for food. No idea if I can build transmitter, but must try.
"Day 175" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger has had encounters with other humans - as well as other creatures. They are building a transmitter.
Day 175: There are others here, trapped like me. I avoid them. No time for their madness or sorrow. They usually get picked off before long, anyway. We are low on the food chain here.
Creatures prowl this place, so I avoid them, too. They can be killed, but gunshots attract, so discretion better part of valor.
Still have food stockpiled, but cannot last forever. Eventually I will be forced to hunt. And nothing looks remotely edible. Yet.
"Day 213" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger recounts a deadly attack.
Day 213: Hard day. Lucky to be alive.
Observed group today sheltered in warehouse structure. They were arguing, did not notice approaching pack of plague dogs. I did something stupid. I ran to help.
Did not know these people. Did not want to. But I could not turn away.
Shot 4 dogs before the people grabbed their weapons. Warned them to exit warehouse. The dogs were inside before they started shooting.
Pulled one out. Gas claimed the rest. Then the one I rescued ran back inside. Not everyone can be saved.
"Day 937" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger's attempts to build a transmitter continue to prove unsuccessful.
Day 937: Gathered lots of electronics. No success constructing transmitter. Some gear seems very old. Other components unlike any I have ever seen. Wish I could find instruction manual.
Also finding shimmering "weak spots" where this world seems to overlap with home. Attempted to pass through but could not.
Still, caught a glimpse of what looked like Southeast Asia. So close, yet out of reach. Must keep trying.
"Day 1,108" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger has discovered they can briefly return to our world, albeit only for several seconds before being yanked back. They say they were like a ghost, and that no one could see them.
Day 1,108: Attempts to pass through weak spots yielding limited results. Managed to lengthen glimpses of home into brief "visits."
Location is different every time -- a jungle, a village, a glacier. I wander unseen, like a ghost. 10 or 15 seconds, then pulled back here.
If I could only get someone to see me. If I could only ask for help.
"Day 1,646" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger reports seeing giants. They say they've met others who call them Elder Gods.
Day 1,646: Saw something new today. Something big. Tall as building, walking through fog. Difficult to see details.
Kept my distance as it passed. I heard talk from others that "giants" roam this land but dismissed it as madness. Heard one call them "elder gods."
Thought I catalogued all creatures here and their pecking order. I was wrong.
"Day 2,873" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger returns to their transmitter project.
Day 2,873: Latest "visit" home lasted close to 30 seconds. The world changed while I was gone.
Was in military base. Watched soldier communicate on equipment like electronics I gathered over here. Saw how it is meant to operate. Returning to transmitter project.
Attempts to consume local vegetation yield poor results, but I am subsisting on creatures now that would otherwise try to eat me. Strange satisfaction in that.
"Day 3,289" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger's reputation in the other dimension seems to have grown. No news on the transmitter project.
Day 3,289: The longer I am here, the fewer creatures pursue me. Still see them take down newcomers, but me they tend to ignore.
Unfortunately, more powerful creatures seem to have taken notice.
Not sure why. Do they finally see me as a threat? I try to avoid them. Anyone would. There are things here worse than any nightmare.
"Day 6,121" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger finds new machines that can dispense beverages.
Day 6,121: New devices turning up. Machines filled with beverages. At first distrusted them. Seemed like a trap. Waited for others to consume what they had to offer.
Results: beverages not only safe to consume but have profound effects useful for combat. Machines even play music while dispensing.
Not sure if someone is trying to help, or just messing with my mind.
"Day 13,773" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Verified: the computer is displaying messages: they appear to be diary entries of some sort. Unclear if these messages are stored locally on this machine, or if they are being transmitted from another location.
Day 13,773: Keyboard finally functional. Screen still hit or miss. Must re-test internal components, make sure nothing is fried.
Still not sure if this thing is transmitting. At least I graduated from pen and paper, which are harder and harder to come by.
Will continue transmission attempts. Have plenty to broadcast. My journal of survival. I can only hope someone is listening.
Artifacts
"Mutated Fungus" (Acquired in the Cryo D.I.E. upgrade quest) - Altered by the Megaton's blast, the chemical nature of the fungus has been transformed, releasing a substance that most closely resembles liquid nitrogen.
"Plaguehound Gas" (Acquired in the Nova 5 D.I.E. upgrade quest) - The odor of Plaguehound Gas is as lethal as it is foul, causing light-headedness before melting a person's skin and evaporating their blood. A horrible way to die.
"Dark Aether Crystal" (Acquired in the Electric D.I.E. upgrade quest) - An elemental mineral from the Dark Aether, Projekt Endstation Scientists used this particular sample as part of a locking mechanism. Further study required.
"Dark Aether Wrench" (Acquired in the EE before the tank step) - Crafted from the energy of the Dark Aether, there is far more to this wrench than meets the eye. Particularly good for waking the dead.
Season 1
Audio Logs
"Lost Souls: Fritz" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - We thought this mission would be quick. How hopeful we were...
Fritz: We all thought... we thought this mission would be quick. This plan came straight from the top.
Fritz: How hopeful we were, taking that first step. Victory was ours. But we spent our bullets long ago, and... this place has changed us.
Fritz: I am not... the man I was. I am not... a man at all. I am just... so very tired...
"Lost Souls: Pyotr" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Atmospheric readings match crystal radiation signatures... personal contamination remains in safety range...
Pyotr: Field report. Lost contact with unit but continue to gather samples until comrades are reacquired.
Pyotr: Atmospheric readings match crystal radiation signature. So this stuff is everywhere. Personal contamination remains in safety range.
Pyotr: Four hostile contacts today. I killed three with small arms fire. The other I... avoided. May attempt engaging after I find my squad.
Pyotr: There is much to explore here. Stand by for additional reports.
Documents
"Day 4,100" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The Stranger has learned of a powerful overlord.
Day 4,100: Found one of the big ones dead today. Had the impression they left each other alone, but it was clear from wounds they fight among themselves.
There is talk here that one of the "overlords" is hunting the rest. Sounded like crazy talk, especially because some now worship the giants. But I have seen enough to believe it.
If one of the giants is imposing its will on the rest, I shudder to think what new order may emerge.
"Day 13,784" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Confirmed: these messages are being broadcast to this computer from the Dark Aether. The Stranger is attempting to establish communication.
Day 13,784: Very big development today! Passed through another weak spot and found a device set to frequency I use for broadcasts. My previous transmissions were right there on screen! No longer feel like I am talking to the void.
When I got pulled back here, I set my transmitter to indicate if receiving device has been used. Waiting now for any sign that someone is on the other end.
Feels strange, after all this time, having something to look forward to.
"Hello?" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - Contact.
Hello! You are receiving my messages, yes?
I lost hope anyone was out there.
My friend, whoever you are, keep checking in. Must go now but will contact you soon.
Radio Transmissions
"Alive" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - I am still alive. I am trapped here.
Pyotr: It was supposed to be over quickly -- in and out. But I was separated from the rest of my unit before our extraction.
Pyotr: By the time I got to the exfil point, the equipment had been smashed to pieces. The radio is the only thing still functional
Pyotr: There may be no way back for me now, but I will do my duty till my last breath.
"Gathering" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - The congregations in the valleys grow larger.
Pyotr: Like most souls here, I have stayed away from others since I arrived. But over the last few months I have seen ever larger groups congregating in the valleys. I hear their chants echo through the eternal night.
"Behemoth" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - There is a presence here the scale of which I cannot explain.
Pyotr: I have not seen it, but I know it is there. I've seen the destruction left in its wake... swathes of trees... snapped and broken as though they were twigs.
Pyotr: It moves with purpose, but it is not a purpose I understand. I have not seen it. I hope I never do.
"Dominion" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - A presence here has corrupted the minds of others.
Pyotr: I met an old comrade this morning. His unit were among the first of our soldiers to pass through to this world.
Pyotr: I fear he has lost his mind, as he mostly rambled incoherently, speaking words I could not understand.
Pyotr: From the little I could make out, he claims to have been here for many months. This is not possible. He deployed only one week before I did.
"Horde" (Acquired through trials when there is a folder on the screen) - There is a roar in the deep dark.
Pyotr: I have heard its guttural roar echo through the forests like a wounded animal screaming out in pain. I fear they are becoming an army.
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