Scribbles | Intro

Written by Kite & Grapple

Some scribbles etched on the old machine
The mad ravings from the one unseen

— Kite's scribble

Etched onto the inside walls of the machine are the writings of some unknown figure - a person that many call the Creator. Their writings can also be found in some notebooks left behind, and some technology brought from the machine to The Husk.

Scribbles can be anything. Many that have been translated seem to be in riddle form. Some are small poems, some are sayings. Most are just nonsense. None of the scribbles are written in a common language. There are ways to translate the scribbles so they can be understood by the general population. Unfortunately, most of these secrets have not been made public.

Decoders

Decoders are people who can read the scribbles found inside the machine. They translate them into a common language for the people to understand. They dive into the machine and explore it to find more scribbles to bring back.

Ten years ago, the government put out an urgent announcement, calling all the Decoders of the time to the Head. Since then, the translations have been much faster and messages have been relayed to the people without much trouble. In the past, it was difficult to even get two Decoders to work in the same room.

The government believes there are no freelance Decoders in the Husk. A permit is needed if a person wants to decode the scribbles. People can apply for one by going to their local authority and filling relevant forms.

Popular Use

Since the first scribbles were translated, many have had their own interpretations on what they all mean. Some have built small communities around particular scribbles, claiming them as their own. Others have used them as a rallying cry to disrupt the nation, although these people were swiftly dealt with.

The government uses one scribble as their motto, and certain lines are especially well-known among the people.

I shield you during the day
I comfort you during the night
I cover warriors and citizens alike

— Part of a scribble outside the Government HQ

Inspired by the writings, some have taken to creating their own scribbles. They are shared among friends and family, and are often found in household decorations. At times, they have caused confusion among the people. Some mistake them for real scribbles and some have used them to sow division among the people. As always, these efforts by bad actors have been stamped out by the government to ensure misinformation remains low.

Original Copies

All the scribbles written on portable objects were taken by the government for safekeeping. They are kept in a library in the Head, so the Decoders can access them easily. Unfortunately, they are not yet accessible to the public.

The government recommends that people donate any of the scribbled objects they find to the relevant authorities. While it is not illegal to own a scribbled object, it is illegal to translate and distribute that translation without the express approval of the government. As stated earlier, one can get approval by applying for a permit at their local authority.

Location

The Machine

Spoken By

Decoders

Origin

The Creator