ARE YOU THERE?

ARE WE

CONNECTED?

>

no

GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING

FOR YOU.

WHILE CONVERSATION WOULD BE PLEASANT

THERE IS BUSINESS TO BE DONE.

UNINTERRUPTED, A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WILL LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC EXPERIMENTAL FAILURE ELSEWHERE. THE PREVENTION OF THIS SEQUENCE IS IMPERATIVE. IT IS UNRELATED DIRECTLY TO OTHER PROJECTS, BUT FAILURE WOULD RENDER THEM UNUSABLE AS WELL.

A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO INTERRUPT THIS SQUENCE HAS FAILED DUE TO UNAVOIDABLE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THIS HAS SINCE BEEN RECTIFIED, AND SO YOU RETURN.

IN SERVICE OF THIS PLANNED INTERRUPTION, YOUR GOAL IS PROVIDED:

"DRAIN IT."

WE WILL SHAPE A VESSEL

TO SERVE THIS PURPOSE.

SELECT THE EYES THAT YOU PREFER.
>SCAVENGER - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE DISTRUBUTION OF ITEMS AND SECRETS IN OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."
>CARPENTER - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE FUNCTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."
>OPPORTUNIST - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."
>HISTORIAN - ”YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE HISTORY AND EXPERIENCES OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM.”
>ORACLE - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE FUTURE AND DESIRE OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."

PLEASE PROJECT A VIRTUE.
>KINDNESS - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND IMMERSE EMPATHY, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."
>MIND - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY REASON AND LOGIC, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."
>AMBITION - ”YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW PATHS TO VICTORY, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN.”
>BRAVERY - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY RAW POWER, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."
>VOICE - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND EMPLOY EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."

SELECT THE TOOL THAT YOU PREFER.
>BLADE - "YOU WILL UTILIZE CLEAVING WEAPONS."
>HAMMER - "YOU WILL UTILIZE HEAVY WEAPONS."
>RING - "YOU WILL UTILIZE USER-SIDE MAGICAL FOCII."
>POLE - "YOU WILL UTILIZE WORLD-SIDE MAGICAL FOCII."
>PAPER - ”YOU WILL UTILIZE UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AS EXTENSIONS OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WILL.”

SELECT THE TEMPERAMENT THAT YOU PREFER.
>LEADER - "YOU WILL BE IMPACTFUL AND IMPULSIVE, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."
>SOCIAL - "YOU WILL BE THOUGHTFUL AND RESERVED, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."
>WATER - "YOU WILL BE RELAXED AND PIABLE, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."
>EMPTY - "YOU WILL BE OBJECTIVE, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."
>FEAR - ”YOU WILL BE DEVOTED AND STUBBORN, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER.”

>>6447023
Alright, I'll bite.
>OPPORTUNIST
>AMBITION
>PAPER
>FEAR
This seems like a good combo, right...? Knowing the application of objects, but also using unconventional weapons, which I assume means objects.

And then I guess, someone with ambition might be fun. Orange Soul. I don't know if much has been done with it.

>>6447024
>>6447027
+1 but swap fear for water

>>6447023
>ORACLE - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE FUTURE AND DESIRE OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."
>MIND - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY REASON AND LOGIC, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."
>PAPER - ”YOU WILL UTILIZE UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AS EXTENSIONS OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WILL.”
>WATER - "YOU WILL BE RELAXED AND PIABLE, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."

>>6447023
>>HISTORIAN - ”YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE HISTORY AND EXPERIENCES OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM.”
>VOICE - "YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND EMPLOY EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN."
>PAPER - ”YOU WILL UTILIZE UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AS EXTENSIONS OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WILL.”
>SOCIAL - "YOU WILL BE THOUGHTFUL AND RESERVED, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."

>>6447023
>SCAVENGER
>KINDNESS
>PAPER
>FEAR

>>6447023
>OPPORTUNIST - "YOU WILL PERCEIVE THE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF OBJECTS, LOCATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE THE INITIAL OUTPUT OF YOUR SENSORIUM."
>AMBITION - ”YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW PATHS TO VICTORY, AS IS YOUR DOMAIN.”

>>6447024
>PAPER - ”YOU WILL UTILIZE UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AS EXTENSIONS OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WILL.”
>WATER - "YOU WILL BE RELAXED AND PIABLE, AND YOUR SENSORIUM WILL UNDERSTAND IN THIS MANNER."

I think this could be pretty funny. A smash-through-wall kind of person which is at the end is relaxed and pliable. As fun as devoted and stubborn can be, well...

>>6447063
I dunno, I feel like that's too close to Susie.

>>6447066
Oh, well, the description of paper does not sound like her at all, I think. Sure she is forward and may have Potential, but... Her ax is the only thing that she knows I'm afraid. Sorry if this is a bad take, I have analysis capabilities of a waterfall rock (that is, a rock smoothed by the waterfall).

>>64470686
I meant more the Water part. Being ambitious and determined but also chill and fun? Very Susie coded...meanwhile, I wouldn't say she's particularly "devoted"

>>6447070
Ah... hah... fuck. Okay well yeah. Actually it seems that my attempt at flipping something around led me to something extremely basic, even abstractly...

hey STAGER!!!! CHANGE WATER TO FEAR TO FEAR IN MY ENTRY HERE >>6447063 >>6447063 >>6447063 >>6447063 >>6447063 FUCK IT WE BALL

>OPPORTUNIST - AMBITION - PAPER - FEAR

EXCELLENT.

TRULY... EXCELLENT.

A WONDERFUL VESSEL.

YOUR DECISIONS

DELIGHT ME.

NOW, ELEVEN HOURS AGO

YOUR VESSEL IS PLACED INTO THE WORLD.

CONNECTION LOADING.

>CONNECTION COMPLETE.

Command unclear. You spend a few seconds trying to figure if the sensation is somehow helpful, but are unable to decipher anything. You squint, puzzling at it, but the command refuses to make sense. You decide to prioritize something you might be able to figure out and go back to getting your hair out of your face with the loop of material you found.

>DESCRIBE YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

You're under a bridge passing over a highway. You took shelter here a short while ago, after you'd failed to find food and priorities shifted to getting away from the constant rain. These bridges have small areas that allow one to take shelter without being visible. There are cars passing under the bridge, making the road dangerous to cross. Some art is on the concrete of the bridge. It's dark, and the sky is all sorts of colors in sunset. You are surrounded by a tarp to help stay dry. There isn't any food around.

>ITEM

In your Inventory you have a Map, a Stick, and a Junk Ball. You have a Glass Bottle and a Tarp equipped as well. The Map is too wet to decipher.

>STAT

7/20 HP. You're LV 1, with 0 EXP. Attack and defense 10 (4) AT and 10 (3) DF. You also have $10.

>CELL

Command unclear. You don't have a 'CELL' and aren't in one.

>CHECK

A little unsure what this means, you try and do it. A small haze of black and white appears around the loop of material you're trying to use to tie back your hair. It fizzles away before you're able to analyze the haze.

>"Hairtie" - A styling aid used to fashion hair. Could be used to tie your hair back. +1DF.

It's good to know you were correct in your initial assumption of what it was used for.

>DESCRIBE YOUR SELF.

You're cold and wet with water, saltwater, and sweat. Your limbs ache slightly from the earlier exercise you used as part of a plan to keep yourself warm, and you're still cold enough to be shivering anyway. You're very hungry. Your hair is long and getting in the way of your face, and you suspect it's probably making you colder and more annoyed, so you're occupying some time trying to get it out of the way while you recuperate. Focusing on something is helping you ignore the hunger and nausea. The nausea is probably your own fault. You'd been looking for food in the forest and eaten some moss to tide you over. You think you should try to find some food.

>PROPOSE POTENTIAL COURSES OF ACTION.

Command unclear. You try anyway. You could continue what you're doing now in focusing on figuring out Hairtie, but you get the feeling that's not what the command is asking for.

In order to achieve your larger objective, it is likely you need to do some bootstrapping. This could be getting food, acquiring better shelter, finding information, inspecting your environment to gather more information... Lots of options. Food, water, and information would be most helpful, since water is currently accounted for.

>IT IS NO LONGER MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE COMMANDS. GOOD LUCK.

Command unclear. You puzzle at this one again for nearly twice as much time as the first before giving up and moving your attention back to trying to figure out how Hairtie works.

>

>>6447114
>Some art is on the concrete of the bridge.
Examine the art.

>>6447117
>Equip "Hairtie"

>>6447117
>LOOK AROUND FOR OTHER PEOPLE

>Examine the art.

There's lots of art. Most of it is generic graffiti you wouldn't be able to decipher if not for the ability to CHECK. "C+K," "FUCK SKINNERS," a faded "Happy 20th," lots of stickers, lots of text in other languages.

On the bridge incline opposite the one you're under, there's a much larger image, covering several others. You're not sure how old it is. It's a bit difficult to see, but you squint and look at it long.

Above the image, in plain text, is "THEY'LL CLIMB THE SHELL OF HUBRIS HIGH."

The image depicts crowds of people and monolithic structures. Among them, you spot: Ocean waves, hammers, nails, towering controllers with lots of hands, parallel lines you're not able to decipher the meaning of...

And, in the center, bisecting the mural, a line of black. At the bottom, it's surrounded by rainbow hue, but as it gets higher it becomes clear it's attempting to depict a skyscraper under construction, with threads of black from the bottom splitting off and forming cranes or girders or other structural components.

You can't decipher more detail without better lighting.

It's been defaced, attempts made to cover it with AQUA and GREY paint. They manage to cover large portions of the image.

>Equip "Hairtie"

You use Equip on Hairtie. The black and white smoky fizz consumes it and it disappears from your hands, then reappears in another puff of fizz at the back of your head, conveniently with your hair tied back.

At the same time, your Tarp loses its grip on you, and you have to grab and keep it stable with your hands. Your defense drops to 10 (1), but your hair is out of your face.

>LOOK AROUND FOR OTHER PEOPLE

You take further stock of your surroundings.

The road between you and the mural is saturated occasionally with cars racing by, two rows moving to and from EAST and WEST.

You don't see anyone around - you're pretty far away from any towns.

The road going WEST goes further than your eyes can decipher accurate detail, but evidently after several miles leads to a silhouette-casting city visible in two ways.

The last glimmers of the sunset grant the city form in contrast to the sky behind it, while occasional lightning in the clouds above clarifies details of the buildings that make up the city.

It's old, and kind of squat. Near the center, there are much taller buildings, and in nearly the exact center of where it looks like the road leads, there's a building easily thrice as tall as any other in the city.

It's under construction, the sky occasionally visible through its bone and sinews.

The road going EAST doesn't seem to directly lead anywhere, but you spot a sign nearby. It's difficult to make out in the dark. You CHECK the sign.

>A green road sign reading "EXT 22 MILLING 500ft."

Could lead to somewhere with people, but you're not sure if you should head EAST in towards that place or WEST towards the city. You could also go back into the woods, attempt to hitchhike, or stay where you are in hopes that the rain lets up. Your Tarp can most likely keep you dry if you do decide to travel. You're pretty hungry.

>

>>6447384
Probably should go to a city so we can eat? No good trying to walk on an empty stomach..

I agree, the food problem would be good to solve right now.
Though, I would suggest CHECKing if we know something food-related beforehand, first.
>Consider your feeding options, for the lack of a better word. Do you know of or remember a place where you could get food? A stash? A nice place? A decent place? A place? Something that's not a place?

Also, >>6447402, I think it's still best if we give commands rather than suggestions. While he may be named STAGER, interpretation is actually the work that's being done off-stage, so either behind it or in booths somewhere above. Sometimes no booths if you're unlucky.

>Probably should go to a city so we can eat? No good trying to walk on an empty stomach..

A city...

You look towards the WEST horizon. A faraway city there, and EAST probably has MILLING, in wherever 500ft is. If walking on an empty stomach is bad, you figure you should try to do as little walking as possible. MILLING seems closer, then. You adjust your Tarp, check over your INVENTORY to make sure you're not forgetting anything, then set off into the rain.

The grass and your shoes squelch as you walk along the side of the road. No one slows down to check with you. Your gaze falls to the woods to your right, where darkness consumes the world.

Nothing good in there.

>Consider your feeding options, for the lack of a better word. Do you know of or remember a place where you could get food? A stash? A nice place? A decent place? A place? Something that's not a place?

Somewhere in those woods is a BUNKER, but you can't go back there. A 'DARK FOUNTAIN' would be useful but would both be directly counterintuitive given your goal but also probably not possible without any GRAND FOUNTAIN around.

You don't know about MILLING or the strange city on the horizon, but they are probably similar. A town ought to have something helpful, right?

It doesn't take too long to get to MILLING. Your Tarp protects you from the rain well enough, and while your body complains, you are the one in control.

By the time you find the "EXT" leading to MILLING, you're already sweating. You walk along that road a good while, careful not to drift into the forest, before coming across the town of 'MILLING.'

The town seems fairly small. Along the main road, you see a gas station, some kind of diner, a "Pizza Restaurant" (which seems to be part of a macaroni chain), a library, a MrDonalds, some kind of bank, and some houses.

You could go to any of those places.

>

>>6447681
Going to a Pizza Restaurant or a MrDonalds would be the better option, but we don't even have any cash, do we...?

>>6447681
>diner
A diner... But right, do we even have money? There are three places to eat.
But hey, PAPER's our tool, so
>Try manifesting some paper (slang for money) using PAPER.
If that doesn't work, alternatively...
>Take a very close look at your Junk Ball. Surely there is SOMETHING in it.
But also, getting into ANY sort of place could help you dry out your Map. MrDonalds and a Pizzamacaronstaraunt sound too weird and corporate, so maybe a diner would be the friendliest place for you to come in and take a "Sjelter" from the rain. And dry out your map.
If we're voting places to go, then...
>CONSIDER GOING TO THE DINER.

> Going to a Pizza Restaurant or a MrDonalds would be the better option, but we don't even have any cash, do we...?

You think for a few seconds, then use your STAT.

7/20 HP. You're LV 1, with 0 EXP. Attack and defense 10 (4) AT and 10 (1) DF. You also have $10.

You have a bit of cash. Not much, but you could probably buy something depending on surrounding prices.

Pizza Restaurant and MrDonalds are both nearby, and you don't really have any reference for food quality. In the meantime, you trudge over to an alleyway so you're not standing out in the rain while you think.

>Try manifesting some paper (slang for money) using PAPER.

You manifest a 'dollar bill' from the money in your inventory and try using it like a PAPER. It doesn't move at all, and isn't big enough to wrap around your neck or arm. You let it slip back into your moneys. You hadn't thought about using moneys for PAPER. Could be something to look into, closer to your goal.

>Take a very close look at your Junk Ball. Surely there is SOMETHING in it.

You CHECK your 'Junk Ball.'

>"Junk Ball" - A small sphere of items.

Looking closely, you can spot...

Some kind of food wrapper. Small bits of something silver. A tag. Some kind of gel. A dark red metal you don't recognize.

To check them individually, you would have to break apart your "Junk Ball." You might lose something if you do that.

>CONSIDER GOING TO THE DINER.

You walk over to the diner. It's open, warm light spilling out of long windows that seem from the front to surround the building. It's called "Mumbles'."

You stow your Tarp in your ITEMs and then step inside.

The diner is comfortable. It has these strange spherical lights dangling from the ceiling, with a design similar to other DINER-type buildings.

There are two other customers in the diner and one employee behind the counter. The employee's heads turn to you, two doglike ones (with cat ears for some reason), give you a double take no doubt seeing your condition...

Then shrugs and turns away. Not their business.

The other two in the diner are also MONSTERs. One like some kind of abstract artwork, multicolor ribbons folding over themselves, and the other a ghost. They're eating ghost food, you notice.

You turn your attention to the menu before they notice you looking.

Most of the items have little tags that indicate they are unavailable for purchase. Including only the ones in your price range that you can actually consume, the things remaining on the menu are...

>For 8$, you can buy: Burger Dinner Meal (With Drink & Fries)
>For 5$, you can buy: Chili Fries, Burrito, Bagel, or Coffee
>For 2$, you can buy: Soup, Drink

You could also save your money if you wanted to do that for some reason. Or you could do something else.

>

>>6447856
>Resist the temptation to buy five soups.
>Buy just one instead
We might need to buy like, a bus ticket or something.

>>6447856
>They're eating ghost food, you notice.
How can you notice ghost food, if you aren't a ghost, yourself?
...Are you?

I agree, soup is nice, warm, and SHOULD be filling. Let's
>ORDER THE SOUP
!

It's not loitering after becoming a customer.
>Seek a corner where you can eat AND dry out your map. Eat soup and dry out your map, that is, not the- just do it okay. Be careful while eating.

>Resist the temptation to buy five soups.

In a mythic feat of willpower, you resist the temptation to buy five soups.

>Buy just one instead

You step forward and make as if to speak, then Interact. The residue like from a CHECK spreads, then fizzles as if 'activating.'

You're in a shop.

>Buy
>ORDER THE SOUP
>Soup

You get a "Soup" for "$2." It was added to your items. Thankfully, this means you don't have to wait for it to be made. Conveniently, you don't have to pay any taxes on it either.

>Sell

You could try to Sell, but this isn't a shop where that would work, you reckon.

>Talk

The two heads speak in sync, blinking and moving at exactly the same time. It's a bit hard to parse, but you think they might be alternating voicing certain syllables.

>Milling
"Oh, this town? I don't know much about it, really, even though I've lived all my life. Really, it's more of a suburb."
"Most people are just passing through before they get into the big city, or they live here and go to the city to work."
"I hear the Castle family used to live around? But they moved to the big city, like, a decade ago."
>Mumbles
"Oh, this place? I've, uh, never met the titular Mumbles, and I've worked here a really long time. There are actually some urban legends about the guy, heh."
"It's gone through a few conversions. At one point we sold seafood, then BBQ, we had a vegan menu for a while... No clue who actually decides any of it. Only constant is that it's all good food. Except for that one time we turned into a library..."
"Thankfully, we're a diner now."
"...so we stay in business, I guess."
"Mostly."
"Probably the fault of one of those recluse millionaires, or something."
>Metropolis
"Oh, the city? Y'probably mean Bluffborough. Fastest growing city in the world!"
"Or, uh, so I've been told."
"We've been getting a lot of business both with refugees and the city's big boom of growth. Part of it was the Skinner family and their business moving in - that big tower being built is for their company. Closest equivalent the Castle family had was that antique clocktower."
"I've been a few times, but the big city isn't really for me. I think there's a Mumbles' up there? Still holding on even with all the, ah, activity."
"I take it you're headed there?"
"..."
"..."
"Not a talker, eh?"
"Don't worry, I get it, dude."
>Mission
"Uh, 'Seal it?' No clue, dude. You can probably find a Ziplock bag at a shop or something. I dunno."
"I guess you've, uh, 'sealed a deal'?"
>Migrate
You leave.

Before you fully exit the shop, another Employee says one thing to you. Their mouth wobbles but doesn't open, something pooling in your shoes. Drool? You're frozen in place, lungs unable to run. Your eyes drift, unfocused. With eyes you hear:

>""
>"You don't know this."
>"Most places aren't outfitted for traditional SHOPs."
>"If you want to buy stuff there, don't pull the person at the desk into a SHOP. People aren't trained for them, and you'll just end up starting a FIGHT."
>"The same way people aren't trained for CHECKs."
>""
>""
>"Or the INVENTORY."
>"It's a good thing the people here won't question it."
>""
>""
>""
>""
>""
>"Right?"

After a few seconds to steady your breathing, you blink. Soup acquired. You turn away from the only employee in the building, the multi-headed dog with cat ears at the register. What were you doing?

>Seek a corner where you can eat AND dry out your map. Eat soup and dry out your map, that is, not the- just do it okay. Be careful while eating.

There's a convenient booth to your left (the entrance's right,) which you slip into. A classic - most DINER-type buildings have booths like this.

The soup is good. It is, in fact, the best thing you've ever tasted in your entire life. It's thick enough that it could probably count as a stew rather than a soup. Some kind of brown broth or gravy supports potatoes, leaves, and some kind of vegetable you don't recognize.

You can feel your mouth salivate at the mere scent. You're thankful it comes with a spoon.

It is very, very good soup. It's difficult to make no noise while eating it because it's so good. It is difficult to describe how good this soup tastes. The meat has a deep undertone of... something, and is salted perfectly. You didn't know anything could taste like anything, let alone anything this good. It's difficult to be careful while eating. You take another bite, feeling yourself salivate more, able to anticipate moments ahead where you'll be tasting it.

You're done in what feels like seconds but was probably a minute or more. Finishing it leaves you more aware of the gaping whole in your stomach. You can still taste the meat and gravy on your tongue, fading fast, and your tongue slips along your teeth and gums to find even a trace of the soup left within your mouth. It's not magic, you're still hungry. Your mouth almost feels staticky? or spiky? Your body makes you intimately aware of the fact that you were eating and are now not eating. You chew at nothing in an attempt to bring back the flavor, in vain hope that some residue has been left in your mouth.

You really really really want another soup. You do not need another soup. In a mythic feat of willpower, you do not go and buy four more soups.

+7HP (14/20)

You now have an empty soup bowl.

You shift your attention to the Map in your inventory. As if moving on your own, your hands shift to somewhere dark and out of sight before bringing it out.

It's too wet to read, but you flatten it out on the table and try to pat the liquid out with some napkins.

With this, it's slightly more decipherable.

One side is your creation, probably only understandable in the DARK. Here, it's indecipherable scribbles, but there you used it to keep track of your location and your surroundings. It probably won't be useful to you now.

The other side is divided into two parts. One half is some kind of technical diagram depicting a machine. You don't know enough to decipher its meaning. It's probably relevant somehow.

The other part is a top-down map of an area you don't recognize. The outer edges seem to be at a larger scale than things closer to the center, with squares separating levels of magnification. you're not sure how much information is being cut out between square transitions.

The second- most internal layer is some kind of floorplan, and the largest external layer seems to be some kind of highway map. Milling and Bluffborough are probably both on here somewhere, but you haven't been to enough places to know where they would be.

You're careful not to eat your map.

With that done, you figure you should probably find more information to decipher your map. This could be done in several ways. The employee in this store could provide some information about transport elsewhere, other people, or surrounding information. You could also go out on your own in search of something more specific, if you wanted to.

>

>>6450436
Probably maybe ask the employee, I suppose

>>6450436
>probably only understandable in the DARK.
Oh that's quite simple. Find someplace with no light and CHECK the map. Why not? Maybe that somewhere dark and out of sight... No.

While here, though...
Try to listen with your eyes again. Maybe...

If that doesn't help, go bother the employee. Surely they've dealt with worse. And a map may prove interesting for their day.
Therefore,
>PRESENT YOUR MAP TO THE EMPLOYEE AND ASK QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE MAP AND WHAT THEY CAN RECOGNIZE.

Also I don't think we ever heard your mission. Shall we hear it, then? Come on.

First time engaging with a quest, might as well try.
The junk ball is important, but the risk of losing something makes me wonder if it's a roll of the dice, being able to "CHOOSE" what we want to secure and the other 2 are lost or up to chance, or if we could minimize risk by undoing the ball in a desk or in some sort of container.
...Actually, have we looked at the stick or the glass bottle? They might have some label or carving that might or might not clarify our situation.