C-ETPL01 (Nov 24, 2021)
Puzzle
“The ghastly opener of many doors.”
Knowledge | 1 Word
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: Not linked to Open Doors the Archive, by the way. Well, not with its first two subarchives, since that's all that's restored at time of writing. Instead, look at receipts further down in this Archive - or even the Folie a Deux opening text, if you're fine with spoilers.
Clue 2: Pretty chilly around here.
Clue 3: Which of the Cold best fits the term 'ghastly'?
Answer and Explanation
Answer: Phantom
Explanation: Though it's most directly stated here, it's mentioned elsewhere that Phantom 'opens doors'. Ghastly is alluding towards Ghosts, or Phantoms.
Summary of Receipt
It’s mentioned that the Cold Elders are a group of Elders that existed before the Universe and its Spheres came into existence, and thus can only interfere through proxies - Fate’s is Indrid Cold, Wicked’s is Manager 5, Secret’s is Shaka of Zulu, and Phantom’s is Phantom Lane the person from Dive Fall. The Managers have their meeting discussing a merger with Astoria. The vote is almost decided, but it’s interrupted when Phantom Lane walks in, along with Phantom himself (itself? do eldritch immortal beings have genders?). Phantom mentions that although he is part of the Cold, he isn’t really that focused on the Mantle of 8 and has other goals - to open doors, apparently. He also says that he’s chill with the CaD staying in the Phantom Lane when using the House on Dracula Drive. Anyway, Phantom Lane decides to stay with the Cafe and DIner for a while until he’s able to head back to the Tuskkin worldline.
Transcript
[BRANCH] ALL BRANCHES
[SERVER] EMPLOYEE NO. 323
[DATE] 11/24/21
[INDEX ID] ETPL01
[SECURITY] CAFE
That was… not what we had planned. First off, if it wasn’t obvious that coffee had been brewed, the meeting was always going to take place on the 24th. We’re not going to go against the advice of Mr. Lucia. Thankfully the meeting has now concluded, and everyone is home safe, ahead of schedule even. We were not supposed to use our CaDCom’s transcription feature during this meeting, but I still turned it on due to the circumstances. Parts of the transcript have been, of course, redacted by No. 1 and No. 2, but the most important part has remained untouched.
Somehow our meeting had an unexpected plus two. And of those two, one was of the Cold. The Phantom. The Phantom, who we don’t mention all that often, isn’t even a member of our Cold technically. It’s a little complicated but, “The Cold” is a group of Elders who are also of “The Cold,” a classification for Elders older than the Universe we exist in. The Cold exists outside of the Universe, which gives them the distinct advantage of not having to abide by the laws of our Universe. However, it also means they can only focus on one cycle out of the infinite available at any given time. The Cold is specifically the Cold Elders who are focused on our cycle: Fate, Wicked, and Secret. And, yes, technically Bird too, but while Bird is a “Cold” Elder Himself, Bird is not part of the Cold. The easiest way to wrap your head around is that Bird specifically exists within the Universe while the other Cold does not. As such, Bird has a “form” or, uh, a “presence” that is uniquely His and singular. The Cold cannot hold a form if they are not in our Universe, so they go the route of proxies. Fate’s proxy is, to the best of our knowledge, Indrid Cold. Wicked’s proxy is… well, our own No. 5. No. 4 and 6 too, but there can only be one proxy at a time, and it’s our understanding that Wicked is most interested in No. 5. And then Secret’s proxy is the head of the Zulu Cult of A23, Shaka, again to the best of our knowledge.
So, you might have noticed I did not mention “Phantom.” However, if you look back at older receipts in the Archives tagged under “The Cold,” you might notice that we tend to list Phantom as one of The Cold. Why? Blame Umbra. Some of the third Cafe’s staff encountered Phantom in an alternate cycle back in 2018-2019 (our time). Something about No. 3’s presence caught Phantom’s interest, and we have since assumed that the Phantom is also after the Mantle of Eight, same as Fate, Secret, and Wicked. We were… sort of right. In any case, this is the first time we’ve directly spoken to one of the Cold, as a group at least. No. 4, 5, and 6 have in some sense spoken with the Wicked before. Here’s the transcript of what Phantom had to say:
S.O.T.
No. 4: Seems like you've already made up your mind.
No. 1: Well, what do you suggest [No. 4]? We clearly can't keep up like this. Without Seth...
No. 5: What about Daichi? He can get us around.
No. 4: If the choice is between Daichi's Ouroborian magic and [the alternative], then I vote for the alternative.
No. 422: It'sss not that bad, you big baby.
No. 2: Daichi, what do you think?
No. 422: Well, it'sss a conundrum for sssure. But if you are worried that the church is no longer sssafe, perhapsss it could offer a nice alternative? Then again, I mussst be honessst. I don't care that much either way. Besssides, I'm no manager.
No. 116: I know I ain't got a horse in this race either, but from an employee standpoint, it'd make me mighty uncomfortable. Y'all don't know what you're getting into.
No. 3: I agree with [No. 116].
No. 2: So that's, what, three for and three against? [No. 7], it's your tie to break.
No. 7: I… uh… wait. Was that door always there?
No. 4: No stalling it.
No. 323: No… wait, she's right. That door is… new.
No. 5: Is that normal, mate?
No. 323: Well, the House does shift around but never while people are inside it.
No. 4, 5, and 6: Turn the knob. Fan the flame.
No. 2: Uh, guys? Crap. Something is not right. [No. 323] how fast can we evacuate them?
No. 323: Turn the knob. Travel the lane.
No. 1: Great, Daichi?
No. 422: Turn the knob… ha jussst kidding. You want me to get usss out of here?
No. 1: Can you?
No. 422: Mm… maybe. Not sssure. I don't really know where the House isss. You know, in ssspacetime and all that.
No. 3: [No. 323] don't!
No. 1: Get ready for whatever's on the other side of that door.
Unknown: Woah! Woah… hang on, hang on, didn't mean to intrude, dudes, just uh, I'm wicked sorry.
No. 3: Phantom Lane?
Phantom Lane: Scratch?
No. 2: You know each other?
No. 3: Uh… yeah, actually. What are you doing here?
Phantom Lane: What are you doing here? I thought the Phantom Lane was kind of a private sort of pocket dimension.
No. 3: Wait… we're in the Phantom Lane?
Phantom Lane: Something like that, yeah. I mean, your door is part of the Phantom Lane, at least. I'm guessing this whole house is. Hang on, let me check… Yep. See that? Wicked cool, huh? But I can only float in the Phantom Lane, so ergo, you're in the Phantom Lane. What is this place?
No. 2: The House of Hamilton, formerly the House of Solomon, also sometimes referred to as the House on Dracula Drive. Honestly, the name seems inconsistent at best. But you're from another cycle, right?
Phantom Lane: What?
No. 3: Uh… think like timelines?
Phantom Lane: Do timelines exist in the Phantom Lane?
No. 3: How would I know! We're from the year 2021. You're from the year 2100-something.
Phantom Lane: 2114. Hang on. Scratch, you're from the past?
No. 2: Different timeline.
Phantom Lane: Mm, I don't think I'm gonna understand this. Sorry. What I do know is you're in the Phantom Lane. This whole house is.
No. 2: That… actually makes sense. It explains why the House can appear and disappear.
No. 3: Like a Phantom.
Phantom: Where is [No. 323]?
No. 3: Uh, Edgar?
Phantom: Not quite.
No. 1: Phantom.
Phantom: Yes. Now, where is the owner of the House?
No. 323: That would be me.
Phantom: Ah, so good to meet you face-to-face. And as I understand it you turned the knob? Good, good. You keep the House well.
No. 323: What do you want?
Phantom: To open doors.
No. 323: What about the Mantle of Eight?
Phantom: Oh? I think you have mistaken me for Fate. While we are in a sense working together, we all seek different goals. We tolerate one another as long as it is beneficial to us. I want to open doors. Eventually, the "Mantle," as you call it, will come in conflict with my aspirations, but at present, I couldn't care less.
No. 1: So you aren't here to take the Mantle from us?
Phantom: I am here to open doors. Nothing more. Do not fret. You are welcome to continue using the House and, by extension, my realm as you see fit. I have no interest in allowing Fate or Wicked to mess with my domain.
Phantom Lane: Wha- oh? Come on! The Phantom used me as a mouthpiece again?
No. 3: Seems like it… hey, Edgar, how busy are you?
Phantom Lane: I mean, I'm spending my free time wandering around the Phantom Lane looking for doors, so you tell me.
No. 3: I'm not sure if it would work, but would you mind exiting the House with us?
Phantom Lane: You mean, like go to the past?
No. 2: Different timeline, not your past.
Phantom Lane: Tomato tomato. [CaDCom Transcription Note: Pronunciation varied]
No. 2: No… not really. But okay. What's your plan, [No. 3]?
No. 3: I just think he could be a valuable reference when it comes to The Cold. You speak with Phantom, right?
Phantom Lane: Oh yeah, can't get them to shut up. I mean, I'm all for some time travel, but will I paradox myself out of existence? Can I return home?
No. 2: Not… no… that's not… you don't… You'll be fine. And I'm guessing you can just return to the Phantom Lane at your leisure, right?
Phantom Lane: Oh, yeah, that's true.
No. 323: Worst case, the House will return next Wednesday. I'm with [No. 3], it's a great plan. I mean, I've always wanted to know more about the House.
No. 1: Fine, fine, but we still need to make another decision.
No. 7: Let's do it.
No. 1: Really?
No. 7: Yeah. I mean… I agree. I think we need all the help we can get if this is going to work.
E.O.T.