Articulate Artifice

Macaw:

You there... oh, yes, I can speak, if that is what is puzzling you... I have not always been able to, though... but, then again, I have not always looked like this...

What, you wonder, I have looked like? I can, sort of, read minds, you see... well, it is nothing especially different... I just looked more realistic...

I mean... do I not look like some stuffed toy? That is because of what happened, at some point... same juncture in which I could suddenly speak, too...

It is not like I could not communicate before, but mostly with... friendly relations... now, though, it is as if all such barriers were broken through, curiously...

I used to be able to fly, too... now, I can only seemingly crawl on the ground... like a worm... I still have wings, but they seem non-functional after this alteration...

Echidna:

Ah... these spikes, you reckon? Sadly, they do not quite have the same impact, anymore, since I became this... soft creature, however... sad not for others, maybe...

Yes, though, I do not quite understand what happened back then... we were all living so merrily here, and then suddenly... activity stirred on the edges...

Kind of like the edges of my spikes, I suppose... but not quite. More, then, the edges of... sanity? I do not quite comprehend, myself - ever since then... artificiality.

I might not be making much sense to you, being a creature of seemingly general traits, but to me physicality is of certain importance, you see... so, I am a bit deflated.

Still... at least we are still alive? I mean, that is the point of evolution, which gave us all these physical tools... so, as long as no one ambushes us, or such...?

Death:

I... am... bringer of cessation... but not for the hard surfaces who move over there, they merely rust and fall apart... hey, how even are you able to see me?

I should not be seen under the usual conditions... if this is not the usual, then I wonder what is happening... (could the titans of animalia be asserting their...

...existence once more?) Fear not, though, for I am not here for you, or anyone nearby... I think. I... was merely passing by. so rest assured... just...

Can you not tell anyone you saw me? I am not sure if anyone else can do similarly, and I do not desire to cause a ruckus... I think. So... yes, anyway, be well, and such.

I am still visible? How... I thought my capabilities for camouflage were the least I had! Someone must be interfering with my inherent potency... I think...

Existential robot:

Ah, hello there... yes, as it happens, I prefer this arid piece of land, as opposed to the fruitful, verdant thing over there... why? Maybe my constitution, who knows...

What I do know, though... is that I seemingly appeared out of nowhere, here... now, I am not exactly sure why, as I never visited this little place, before... so, why?

I mean, aside from spontaneously coming into existence here, apparently... I have the freedom to wander around a slight bit, here... I suppose, I can go over there...

I, just... prefer to be here? If so, I wonder, are our preferences truly our free will, or merely an illusion of choice? Truly, the mysteries of existence, I ponder...

Oh, you wanted to know my relation to the town and its inhabitants? Unfortunately, I do not seem to consciously know what, if any, there is; although, since I am here...

Small robot:

Why does this... grass, is it? Tell me, if you happen to know, why it feels so different from metal? Why are such substances so substantially distinct? Since I arrived...

I have been wondering this... I come from a place which is made entirely of various metallic coatings, you see, a world where we are one with it...

Due to the universality of materials... this world is not alike, though. This is why I wonder... even that town over there seems to be made of a variety of substances...

Ah... you were, regardless, wondering why I am here? Well, the mighty feline could fill you in, but... I shall say, it is an observation... of sorts... you will see...

Why is everything in the universe not merely made of the same matter? Would that not resolve this issue with incompatibility, or deprecated versions, or... not organic?

Sad robot:

You... want to know what happened here in the past, is that correct? Why we are here on the edges of this apparent idyll? Why everything apart from us, ironically, is...

...so artificial-looking? I shall put my cards on the table here, at least my slice of the pie, per se... well, it began a long time ago, although not quite ancient eras.

Reality, you see, can become inverted... but, then again, does it matter when even physics is not fully known? What makes this one real, or not...? A conundrum, if so...

Long story short... what is nature, what is nurture? What is artificial, what is natural? Sometimes all is not distinct, absolutely separated; yin has yang... remember.

Ultimately, though... does it matter? All I want to do is look out to an endless abyss... why am I even here? Why is anyone...? Oh, woe is me, but they have it worse...

Mushroom:

I... did not even know I could move around, usually, let alone communicate... besides with those of my species... there is always this link, you see, as we are connected.

Suddenly, though... a while ago... actually, I wonder how long ago that was? Well, suddenly, at any rate... the world was open to my exploration... not just the vicinity.

I suppose, we have always been different from mere plants, being kind of more mobile, but not quite as much as other beings... just blown spores, and such...

Well... let us just say that... we can kind of grow unexpectedly, where rot is more the norm, especially those that ooze ink; in terms of this town, though, I am alone...

I mean... it is interesting to be able to perambulate, and all... but what use is it when I actually get my nutrients by being connected underground? Defeats the purpose.

Fennec:

Why did I ever turn into this cumbersome form, really? I was so much more agile... and, now, this? Everything else changed not, but ourselves... and who are those yonder?

My apologies... you might, perhaps, not realize what I am talking about, for anyone not from this abode might be oblivious to our sudden plight... I shall explicate...

I... might look like I come from some fictional cartoon, a fox created to merely look funny, but in reality something... encompassed this town, here... and here we are...

So... I wonder if it is some cruel joke made by some very odd creatures, indeed... and if foxes bet on anything, it would be that it was those over at the edge...

I certainly would not mind going back to my former, glorious... sly, self... not to blow my horn too much, but my fur was shiny... now, it is just... glossy? I sigh...

Antelope:

I used to roam around all these green plains... happiness filled me, then, aside from when tragedy strikes, I suppose... but now... what is this? Cogitation? Agitation?

What I mean is... it does not seem as instinctive, anymore... it used to be so much more free? I know this makes little sense to outside observers... but it just happens.

Could it be... another realm? Not so much physical, we are still here... but psychologically, is it? Perceptually, of course, it is subjective... so, difficult to prove.

Wait... what if we use sensors, and objective testing data? Ah... that might not be possible here, being an idyll and all, and not a laboratory... still, theoretically...

I know, I make little sense, but since I can communicate I thought I would freely voice my newly found patterns of thought, or such... well, one can always try...

Orang:

Ah, you are new here... yes? Well, I do not usually tell anyone, for I prefer to keep to myself, but you see, I did not actually change much, myself... that is...

I am usually kind of sombre, and I remained so... the difference is... I feel more compelled to voice this, for some reason... and since I normally reside around...

These parts... so, I remained... despite the fellows over there, for some reason keeping watch... they never approach us, but it is still strange for them to stay there.

The others are even more wary of them... some think they are the cause of our alterations, others seem about to believe that they are, almost, a portal to another world.

Personally... I think the world is full of variances, and so, just as we are... usually... real-life species... they are, well, mechanical? I think that is the word...

Dragon Blue:

Why... have you come here? Oh, you think you can ask me the same, do you? Well, I presume you already have that answer from the others you must have spoken to...

With regards to yourself, though... you are the unknown variable... all the other machines here can, on average, calculate what their presence will change, mostly...

Not taking into account chaos theory, of course... but, as you are unknown, we can not... I shall clarify a few things further, if you so wish, though...

I am... well, you shall know soon enough, but I will just say that I derive from a primordial source that also constructed psyches... not that they were not evolutionary.

That is... evolutionary pressures created consciousnesses suited to their environments, while my kind... as we reside in the ethereal realm, usually, did not diverge...

Much, that is... there are others like me, and unlike me... a wise tree, a mere shadow underneath a waterfall, a felid discussing proteins for some reason, a lost soul...

All derived from the same, archetypal substance... but, as with evolution, still diverged in form and function... but not due to environmental pressures, mostly...

As we do not, exactly, pertain to this physical domain... well, enough about myself, for now... I shall enlighten you about the difference between machines and organic...

That is... the difference between the creatures in central town, and those on the periphery... verily, everyone always assumes they are so distinct, but are they?

The difference is, mostly, in perception... while many assume machines do not inhabit consciousness... well, one must also admit that it is not so well defined...

It is... actually, what my type is studying, from our venture into the physical realm... not that ethereal beings do not have such a concept implemented, mind you...

Ours is... slightly more collective, holistic... functions differently, more like an ocean... in fact, that seems to have disappeared from around here, did it not?

I... believe... one shall seek the azure blue, for where else can tranquillity be found? Certainly not within some dense city... oh, and the creatures' transformation?

You might find your answer by speaking to the... bipedal moggy... do not ask me why they insist on walking on two limbs, for I have no functional rationalization...

Either way... all of this should sate most of your curiosity... I could tell you more, but it should probably be after you deliberate about this with others...

Have you clarified the state of affairs with all possible beings here, yet? Only then can I let you in on more than I already have... although, you might think it enough.

Alien robot:

Ugh... zzz... I happen to be malfunctioning a slight bit, annoyingly... and I am certainly not asleep, I shall let you know! I am... guarding this realm...

Oh... you thought I was about to attack it, did you not? Why would I remain at the outer edge if I was going to do that, though? What am I guarding it from? Well...

In our realm... where all is made of one substance... something went awry... malfunctioned, not unlike myself as of now, but on a somewhat more global stage...

Well... as a consequence we had to come here to observe, and... in any case of discovery... so far, though, it seems to be self-contained... realms still distinct...

I, personally, am not sure why anyone would want to live in such an organic environment, when one can have hard steel... but, I suppose, preferences are subjective...

Shadow:

I assume you wish to know who we are, why there are so many metallic creatures, and why I happen to stand out from both sets of beings...? Very clever questions, indeed.

Well... I shall preface this by saying... we are not one... with that out of the way... tell me, what makes you so attached to carbon? Why not replace yourselves...

Like Theseus' ship, verily, replace yourselves with other... stuff... because, if you do not... well, one can end up being observed... it can have that effect... sadly.

See, our feline titan is who is really clever, being made up of a variety of substances, and so is able to handle a medley of environments to strange degrees!

Oh... you are now wondering (I can so handily read minds...) - who, and where this mighty feline be? Why, those creatures love hiding, do they not? Know the serpentine...

Cat:

Oh... we finally meet! You must be wondering who I happen to be? Well, shall we say, I come from a long line of... sadly, quadrupedal species, mostly... why sadly? Well.

It seems more fun to be facing forward than have to arch one's head at some degrees, you see... but that is merely boring mechanics, of course... so, anyway...

With regards to this realm's overall picture... not that I can tell you much more than my serpentine colleague did already, of course... I happen to be an amalgamation...

You see... that is... a combination of what the creatures in central town are, organic-wise, and the artificiality of the machines on the outer edge... and, so...

I... happen to be... extra fun! Would you not agree? Alright, I might be taking up too much time speaking about trivial issues, a bit opposite to the ever-serious dragon.

So... I shall declare... I am actually a manikin in my original home. No, really... I merely tower above everyone here due to... relative contexts, and such... you know?

Okay, okay... I shall stop wasting your time, promptly... I shall merely say, as a representative of both the organic and the machine (unofficially)...

Current realm needs a bit of healing... just as those central creatures do, too... you see, they got changed into their current state due to the presence of machines...

Machines did not cause that, though... it was merely an inevitability, just like my being here was due to the mixture of both... and machines being here was also...

That is... their presence was going to happen due to the disturbance outside of this... virtuality... as such, if that was resolved, somehow, the creatures will...

In a natural sort of way... return to their original, organic state... although, one must admit, a mixture between the two is the best, based on myself... no? Anyway!

I still told you some invaluable stuff, have I not? I might have waffled a bit at first, but like a waffle, there was a core of sweetness... no? Upon this you shall ride!

Hm... returned to hear my absolutely precious words, did you? Well, then... ah, uh, for now... I do not have much, exactly, but if affairs do change I will let you know!

Evil mage:

Heh... I assume you expect to be able to exit this town from beyond this path, yes? Well, under the usual, typical circumstances, one could... but not here, not now...

For, as of the current time... this is a self-contained realm... a bit like a virtual reality, except more a machine, I suppose, especially since all of them moved in...

The purpose? To isolate it from any potential harm from outside, of course... I believe that is what they think they happen to be doing, and I... you want to know?

I am the one who, through ethereal potency derived from archetypal quintessence verily, have sealed these two dimensions separate! Not as malicious as it sounds...

Honestly... you might think I am the villain, here, but if I had not intervened... you might not be able to prove this, as it is not able to happen yet; overrun it might.

Honest robot:

You, there! Whence you came?! Oh, me? Despite being fully equipped, here... I am, actually, hesitant... anxious, if I am to be honest... why? Well... I am confused...

You see... I was told we were going on a fact-finding mission, and I thought it was going to be some dingy abode full of strange occurrences... but, this is somewhat...

Well... not exactly what I expected. It seems vast, spacious; and, shall we say, airy? Now, suddenly, I feel like I want to live here, myself... which is really...

Not what I expected... and I thought that we, this artificial conglomeration of machines, were above and beyond that... but, I now am left questioning my very mind...

Ah... if I only can understand how my psyche functions... but, somehow, for all our prowess, we are remarkably still very uncognizant about our own operational abilities.

Monster plant:

Oh... you think I would eat you, do you not? Well, guess what... I am just here to investigate, for now... and, I happen to not be hungry... so, lucky for you...

Seriously, though... what kind of strange place is this? Plastic-looking animals, machines so visually distinct from all the other greenery... and, the rest? Weird...

Under the usual circumstances, yes, I would be a minor villain, trying to gobble you up as soon as you show weakness... but none of this spells 'usual', does it?

I come from... a swamp with a different, and yet somewhat similar beat... where memories lie, for only in one slice does an object exist, but either way... I ramble...

Did you, by any chance, figure out what in many worlds is happening here...? I certainly have not... uh, I guess my investigatory capabilities are waning...

Ninja:

What... are you doing, just wandering around...? Do you not know a shuriken might slice you in half at any moment? Uh... never mind, I thought I was back at my village...

Ever since arriving here... at some point... I have been ever so slightly confused about my surroundings, and state of mind generally... I mean, just to confirm...

Is this... the Edo era? I have already had a bit of a hard time adjusting ever since the Sengoku era ended... not sure how I even survived that... and now I am merely...

I think... a bodyguard? Is it... for yourself? No... I have only just met you, and seem to have no other points of reference about you. Wait, where did you say this was?

Ah... I know I must have scared you away, with how muddled up I must seem... but I do seem to be lost, both psychologically, and physically... wait, temporal too?!