#REM010

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 4. Culpability

I am in Eskew episode four - thoughts.

It's interesting, the way David says "I am in Eskew". There seems to be a slight upwards inflection towards the end - not questioning, but perhaps more like surprise? As if he is only just realising the truth of his statement. Or perhaps he merely sounds unsure - as if he is trying to convince <b/>himself<b/> of that very truth. Hmm...

Chocolate biscuits. Yum.

They've probably gone the same way as the lifestyle department, haven't they.

"Chumminess" and David really do not seem like a good combination.

Again - David seems to have absolutely no qualms about lying - he doesn't even seem to pause this time.

Wow. David seems <b/>extremely<b/> awkward.

A bath - water again. Is this important?

Poor guy.

Interesting - after learning about this guy's awful childhood, David's immediate reaction is "my boss will be delighted." At a first glance this merely seems to be more of the callousness and lack of care that we've seen from David previously. However, if we look closer, it appears David is deliberately keeping his difference - framing this interaction in terms of his job only. We don't know much about David's childhood (yet?) but what we can guess at is; his parent's seem to be estranged, and he was raised, by and large, by his mother - his father does not appear to feature majorly in his memories, and the one memory in which he does appear has him speaking to David's mother over the phone, implying he is not around. We also know/can guess, based on both the aforementioned phone call and his pharmaceutical prescription of risperidone, that David has schizophrenia¹. These factors combined certainly seem to point towards David having had an unhappy childhood - at best. Hmm...

Oh no. This is all going to go terribly wrong, isn't it.

The Charcoal Monster?!

Eurgh!

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

He didn't kill them, did he - also, "missing parts" were mentioned before. Is this another How and Why situation?

Ohnoohnoohno

They're not going to be at home, are they.

Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh nooooooooooo

I- oh no oh no oh no. Oh no.

Again David's childhood does not seem to have been great.

Who exactly is David speaking to? Who is "you"? One would think that it's merely whatever hopeful tourist is listening to this, but it sounds more personal than that - as if David is speaking to someone in particular, whom he hopes will hear it. Hmm...

¹Or possibly bipolar disorder, but based on other clues, I'm going to assume it's the former.

Sorry - mainly to @lorientour, because I'm pretty sure you're the only person who reads these - I've been trying to keep a schedule of posting one of these every two days, but I was very busy the last few days and didn't get around to it. I know that, most likely, no-one cares, but I just thought I'd say.

[guariglia]

REM010 / rare earth mining #rareearth #mining #surfacemining #china #ecologicalcrisis #aerialphotography #landscape #aeriallandscape #extraction #anthropocene (at Planet Earth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHDYKWFFpGV/?igshid=u2rmmevudpyw

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 3. Excavation

I am in Eskew episode three - thoughts.

Is the entirety of Eskew built the same way as the Commemorative Gallery?

Canals - water again.

Thanks, David - now I'm going to worry about that when I open my door in the morning too.

Ah! The Orion Building Concern again.

Oh this not nice at all. Oh no.

No children. Thank goodness.

Wow. The Orion Building Concern seems a bit... over-the-top. Creating a disease just to avoid hiring workers? Bit extreme.

Oh no. Eurgh.

Sister Agnes - I think this is the first "properly" named character - after David, of course. Is she going to be important?

All of these horrifying things seem to happen peripherally to David. Or at least, they start that way - his colleague, the Correspondence Editor, was, after all, the first recipient of the letters. The Digging Sickness was caused (?) by an excavation project that started in his neighbourhood. Even with the Gallery, the charcoal monster only appeared on the day he went in - but also didn't actually attack him, only the Architect.

"A great dark tide." Water. Again.

David seems to be willing to do anything to leave Eskew, yet he invites us to come - almost commands us to come. He wants us to come - or at least, so he claims. Hmm...

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 18. Leakage

I am in Eskew episode 18 - thoughts.

Another one?

Who is "the witness"?

I don't like this at all.

Is this a repeat of the other story? What's happening?

Is this outside Eskew?

Who is this person?

Is this the beginning of Eskew? I don't understand.

That's quite an extensive researching strategy. I like it.

Burn it down!

I don't really like this man, but I dislike the tower more.

Well, that went wrong quite quickly.

This is all going to go terribly wrong.

They're building Eskew.

That's it, isn't it. They're building Eskew.

This is the birth of Eskew.

Oh no.

Oh, no.

You should have killed it when you had the chance. If you ever truly had a chance.

Eurgh.

Well.

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 1. Correspondence

I am in Eskew episode 1 - thoughts

Essentially what I have done is write down all of the thoughts I had, while listening to this episode, in my notebook, and then copying them hear. Enjoy! "A ghost is just like a person - just a little beyond a person."

I love weird architecture.

"I don't mean to put you off coming here" Really? Also, who is "you" - the listener, or someone else?

Floods, hmm? Any connection to the constant rain that I can hear in the background?

14th - not 13th.

Poor lifestyle team.

Are you sure?

The love letters sound intense.

It feels odd to hear him say "algorithm". Modern technology just seems wrong in the context of Eskew, for some reason.

How and Why. <My> Mr How. <Your> Mrs Why.

What are you trying not to hear?

<Mrs> How. Trans or marriage?

Oh. Mr Why - probably not t4t- could be non-traditional wedding vows?

Ah, I see you noticed too, David.

How and Why - no gender, no roles.

That's a lot of letters.

You say that, but you sound a little bit jealous.

Good on you, taking the initiative!

Never mind. Best laid plans and all that.

I have to admit, the Senior Custodian has a point - sending chocolates via newspaper isn't very feasible.

Oh no, they're not going to be chocolates, are they?

Oh. Oh no. I didn't want to be right!

Eurgh. Yuck. Nononononono.

You seem awfully calm, <David>.

The platonic ideal of a chocolate box - made with flesh. Yuck.

Poor Correspondence Editor.

"The Senior Custodian wouldn't let us keep the flesh chocolates" pom-pom, David.

Wow, David. You really have <no> sympathy for your colleague who has mysteriously disappeared - Mr. "Now I have unhindered access to the letters".

Thank you landlady! At least someone actually cares!

Yuckyuckyuck. Fleshflower.

Hmm. Gild the lily. Build the lily. Hmm.

Everything? In your bag? I got the impression that there was a <lot> of stuff in that flat.

How disappointing for you. How tragic.

Actually, I really¹ do feel bad for him now. Poor guy.

Again, the mobile phone seems out of place - too modern.

Is David listening to ASMR?

"Finally, after so many years, I am a participant in something." Now I feel even worse about being mean to him before. He just wants to be included.

David Ward.

I'm coming.

It's the bricked up entrance, isn't it.

Ooh nice, a garden.

Wait, it's the garden, not the bricked up entrance.

Oh.

Ha, it is the bricked up entrance!

Or is it?

I presume this is how all romantic relationships work.

Is it the Correspondence Editor?!

Oh, no. No, it is not. It is something far, far worse. Oh no.

Run, David, run!

Oh. Robbed. Thank goodness.

David "Don't think about it" Ward.

Well.

Thank goodness, I am glad to hear it.

Poor David.

Hang on. David <Ward>. David <What>? Hmm.

Neat! I love languages.

Do they? Do they really deserve it?

¹I had to take a break here to refill the ink in my pen.

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 30. The Boy Who Saw Cracks In The World

I am in Eskew episode 30 - thoughts.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Oh no.

Hmm.

Oh, David.

Oh, David.

Oh, David.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh.

Oh, David.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Everything's going to go wrong.

Oh no.

Oh my - what's happening? Is this the return of Mirror-David?

Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh no.

It's not that easy. Never that easy.

Oh no.

Oh? Hmm?

Oh no.

Oh, David.

Oh no.

Oh no no no. Oh no.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no no no no no no no no.

No no no no no no no no no no no.

David! Oh yes! Oh no! No no no no. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no

Oh no

Oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

Oh, Riyo.

Oh, no.

Oh, David. What has become of you?

Oh, David.

What's happening?

Oh, no. Oh, no.

Oh, yes.

Oh, David.

I think I'll carry on.

Well. That was - very much not what I expected, but beautiful all the same.

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 27. Breakout

I am in Eskew episode 27 - thoughts.

Where is he oh no. Hospital? Morgue? Wait an airplane? Oh oh oh no.

Oh no.

I don't understand - no. Allegra is lying. You can't trust her. This isn't real. Good job David! Don't trust her!

This isn't real.

Your mother is dead now. Eskew killed her.

You haven't escaped Eskew. I'm not sure you can.

Oh, David. Oh, David. Oh, David.

Oh, David.

Everything is going to go wrong.

Everything is going to go so, so wrong.

She's lying. Eskew is lying.

I knew it. I knew it! I knew it!

Oh, no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

You can't go home, David. You can't go home.

No. No no no. Don't help it don't help it no. Do not help Eskew.

No no no.

Say no. Don't give in. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

No? Was the answer no? Please please please

What's happened? What's changed?

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 0 - Initiation.

Well, here it goes - my first podcast liveblogging attempt. I am starting off with the trailer(?), because if you're going to do something, you might as well do it right.

As it's quite short, I don't have much to say other than "This Eskew place sure seems rather odd!" and also that I thought he said "bird" rather than "burg".

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 24. Festivity

I am in Eskew episode 24 - thoughts.

Hmm.

I don't think it will change.

This sounds nice. I wonder how it will all go wrong.

Oh no.

Good plan.

Oh no.

"Royal" society? Does Eskew have a monarch? Does Eskew have any sort of ruler - any governmental body? Why have I never wondered this before? Of course, I know this question will, most likely, never be answered. Eskew doesn't have any sort of explanation, for anything - it simply is. I suppose I can but live in hope.

Indeed.

Perhaps Eskew has always existed, in some form. Perhaps it has never existed. Perhaps it does not even exist now.

Oh no.

Ooh, the Harvestman's Reckoning. Hmm.

That sounds fun!

It does indeed, David. It will not be marvellous at all.

Oh no.

Mm.

Sounds horrible. Very Eskovian.

Ah, a fellow satchel-user! Wonderful!

Oh no.

Hmm.

Oh no.

That sounds about right.

Oh no. No, David, no. Oh, no, no, no.

Eskew doesn't have any sort of history, beyond what you make of it, David. What anyone makes of it.

Of course.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Well, stuff you, Palatnik.

Oh, no. I knew it. I knew it. How long has he been here? How long?

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh, David. David. Oh, no.

Just ignore him, David.

Festival time. Oh no.

Perhaps Eskew is in the Southern Hemisphere? Here, April 14th would be - roughly the right time for a harvest festival. Ish.

Ah, no, it's his fault. Should've known.

Oh, David.

Get your revenge, David. Get him. You can outwrite him.

Ah, David. Good job.

It's fine - you can erase his stories.

Ha! Good job! Get him! Get him! Yes! Yes!

Oh no. Oh no. No no no no no no.

Quick, David! Quick! Rewrite the story! Reclaim the history! Take Palatnik down! Quick Quick Quick! Go go go!

Goodness, what an awful man.

Oh David. I knew that would come back to bite you.

Yes! Yes yes yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyes! Get him! Rewrite the story!

No! Nononono! Get that ledger! Quick!

Oh David. No. Oh, no.

Oh no.

What?! Who? Riyo?! What?! Oh my goodness!!!

Aaaaaaaah!!!

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 23. Mindfulness

I am in Eskew episode 23 - thoughts.

Oh, this is very different.

David, have you been hired by a - meditation company? Therapy dealie? What's happening?

...

...

...

...

David, that is not a mirthful laugh.

...

...

...

This doesn't seem very calming.

...

...

This is actually one of the problems I have when I try and do breathing excercises. Either I focus too much on counting the breaths, and I don't relax, or I lose track, and then get worried that I'm doing it wrong.

I'd pick the sea creature. It sounds pretty interesting.

Is this David's voice? Or is it the same voice as whoever narrated Episode 18? Was that just Jon Ware, or was it someone in the story?

...

...

...

Hmm.

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 20. Cruelty

I am in Eskew episode 20 - thoughts.

A content warning? This episode definitely seems like it's going be a lot. I was never really bullied at school, thankfully, so hopefully it'll be alright.

Gardening?

I knew Allegra was untrustworthy. I knew it!

A tower?! Aha!

I think you do have trust issues, David, but they're definitely warranted in this case. As they say, "It's not paranoia if you're right."

Hmm...

A magda? What's a magda? Is it a plant, or a person, or something else?

Magdalena Marin. Hmm.

What did she do?

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm??

What is wrong?

Oh no.

Oh no. What's happened - oh no. Oh no no no no no no no no no no.

Hmm. Oh. Hmm.

Do what?

Oh no no no no. Yuck. Eurgh.

How long is David there for? It seems like a very long time...

Well.

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 16. Tenancy

I am in Eskew episode 16 - thoughts.

I really hope it is milk. I do not wish to think about what else it could be.

Oh, David.

Rubbish. They're not getting anything.

Is this going to be another How and Why?

David's onto you, Eskew. So what are you going to do? How will you make him suffer?

Oh no.

Oh no.

David get away from the door. Get away from there RIGHT NOW. GO GO GO RUN. RUN RUN LEAVE RUN AWAY now.

David, are you watching the TV with the sound off? Because otherwise, it seems like that might be what is tipping it off. Boiling pasta could also potentially be audible, one would think.

Neighbours?

For the last three months, has been there for as long as I can remember. Hmm...

Oh no.

Oh, David.

Oh no. Goodbye, downstairs neighbour.

David, I think it might just be time to start looking for a new flat. There should be two new vacancies, in the same building.

Oh no. David, you definitely need to leave. NOW. Leave leave leave get out get out get out you NEED to go.

Oh, David. No no no. Oh no no no no no no no no leave get out of there you need to leave go get out run run run run David run get out of there you need to leave you need to escape yes!

Yes! Escape! Be free! Leave! Leave! Leave!

Goodness gracious me, David. Surely the housing market isn't that bad?

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 6. Intrusion

I am in Eskew episode 6 - thoughts

Ohohohoho! This is not the voice of David Ward! This is someone else!

Well, this is ominous.

Oh oh oh oh OH. Is this person talking to David? Have they been hired by David's mother?

Up until relatively recently, I did not really know what a casserole was - I believed it to be something that contained sausages, and had more in common with meatloaf than stew.

How old is David?

What constitutes an "unattractive" haircut?

Oh, so he would be somewhere in his early twenties. He sounds much older - probably he is trapped in a nightmare city.

It's interesting that we can still hear the rain, even though we are (presumably) not in Eskew.

On a sidenote, I feel as if the experience of listening to Eskew is one that would be greatly heightened by location. For example, I am currently listening/taking notes while sitting at the top of an old ladder resting against a tree, with a cup of tea beside me¹. I have previously listened/taken notes while sitting on my bed, as the rain pounded down outside my window. I feel as if, perhaps, the ideal - whoops! An ant just fell in my tea - location, for me, at least, would be something like that of my grandmother's holiday house², down near my cousins. It is a draughty house, and the wind howls both inside and out, as the rain pelts down. Anyway, back to Eskew.

Humming. Hmm...

Voices. Hmm...

Good grief, this is scary. Children's rhymes can be terrifying, especially in the hands of a horror writer.

Well.

Oh no oh no. She's being pulled into Eskew, isn't she.

Is the man David? Or is it someone else?

Brother?

She has his pension - is he dead?

The word? Eskew? Is the word Eskew? Is it?

Yes! Eskew! Yes!

Trust me, you don't want to.

Who is this person³ talking to? Is it David? It sounds like it's David, but... hmm.

ESKEW

The Orion Building concern? Who or what is both active in Eskew and also willing and able to use YouTube?

The Charcoal Monster?

This seems horrifying.

This seems even worse.

Oh no.

Oh No.

Who posted the video?

Eskew.

James, James,

He said to his mother said he

You must never go down

To the end of the town

If you don't go down with me.

Oh, thank goodness.

Where are you flying to?

Who are you talking to?

¹I also have birds running around beneath me, screaming "Go back! Go back!" so that probably adds to the atmosphere.

²It's not exactly a holiday home, but she doesn't live there full time, only visits, so I'm not really sure what to call it.

³The episode description says her name is Riyo, but it hasn't been said in the podcast proper, yet (?).

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 5. Illumination

I am in Eskew episode 5 - thoughts.

You're welcome, David.

This seems like a positive development, I wonder how it's all going to go terribly wrong.

Talking to someone your issues - good!

Lying about said issues - less good.

Oh no.

Oh, David. Poor David.

Doing better, but still in Eskew.

Don't jump, David.

Oh David. "I can't jump. They need me at work." Oh, David.

Considering how many people seem to die all around you, David, I think you're probably fine.

Be a rebel, David. Don't jump.

I can't believe this voice is just telling him "All of your friends are jumping off the bridge, you should too." This is what we were warned of as children.

Oh no. Oh no nonononononononononono

Don't Jump, David.

Yes!

Good job David!

Success!

Darn you and your shifting streets, Eskew.

Wait, what? David has a child? Was - was this mentioned before?

Oh. That makes more sense. Although, seriously, David? A voice tells you that your four year-old daughter has jumped/fallen off the bridge, and you immediately run forward, prepared to jump off, before you realise that you don't actually have a four year-old daughter.

And then you think "whoops! I guess this is somebody else's four year-old daughter. Well, not my problem!"

Oh no.

Oh No.

You don't have a four year-old daughter, David, we've been over this.

Oh no.

Oh no no no no no no Don't Jump! no no no

This seems like a marked difference to the average episode so far¹. In them, David typically encounters a dangerous situation, get's caught up in it somehow, then escapes (relatively) unscathed. But in this episode, Eskew just seems bent on killing him - because he's trying to get help?

"You've heard of Everything is Lava. Now let me introduce you to Everything is the Railway Bridge!"

How can David see his colleagues? Even if he's not working, he seems to be at his desk, and it's previously been established that he is alone up on floor 14. Hmm...

Wait - it was the senior Custodian before. Same person?

Surely Eskew could just push David off that bridge, if it really wanted him dead that badly? Or is it just that it wants him to make that choice - it wants him to give up, to give in, to Jump. Hmm...

This new posting sounds suspicious, David. I don't think you should take the position.

Eskew, stop trying to peer-pressure David into jumping of the bridge.

Oh no oh no.

It's not over, is it.

Oh no².

You tell them, David!

¹I say, on the fifth episode.

²By my predictions, based on prior trends, my final liveblog will just be an entire post of just "oh no".

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 2. Reproduction

I am in Eskew episode 2 - thoughts.

"It's as if a hostage video has been assembled of my own history." Wow.

Again: constant rain. What is the relation between Eskew and the rain? Water can be a mirror, but one that can distort the reflection shown, much like David's pictures.

I don't recall anything about airports in the last episode, and this one does not appear to be about Eskovian at all (which is disappointing, as I was looking forward to learning about the language.) So the implication is that David records many episodes, but we hear only a few - the most horrifying, perhaps?

The Crime Department is based on the 12th floor. David (and formerly, the Lifestyle team) is based on the 14th floor. What's on the 13th floor? Is there a 13th floor at all?

"Ripples across black water." Hmm...

No-one seems to have names in Eskew they're all either referred to by what they do- Correspondence Editor, Senior Custodian, Architect- or what they are- How and Why. No-one except David Ward.

The workers didn't just "walk out", did they.

Why is "An act of redemption for his superiors watching from abroad" repeated? Is this just my podcast player acting strangely, or have others noticed it as well?

So. David agrees to everything the Architect says. Promises not to tell a soul. Then he tells us the whole story on a transmission, with the intent of making this public information. Does he just not care about this man at all? He said earlier that he "didn't know if he was real at all, or just a shape the City had conjured up". Is this that paranoia, that mistrust and disbelief coming out again? Or is it just that he doesn't really think anyone will ever actually hear this story, and hence doesn't feel that he is betraying the Architect's confidence?

"The singleminded focus of schoolchildren at play". That's an odd choice of words. When I think of children playing, I don't think of focus, especially not the type of focus David seems to be implying - I think of freedom and flightiness, a sense of enjoyment and constantly shifting fluid rules and stories within the confines of a game. When I think of schoolkids, specifically, at play, I think of fleeting joy. I think of happiness in the moment, with the looming knowledge of an impending return to lessons, that would bring about the end of such play.

Again - distorted reflections.

Amazing! What a scene. Picture this - after searching through the City, you finally convince someone - an Architect of the place, no less - to take you into the mysterious and offputting Gallery/temple. After ignoring all of the prior foreshadowing, you suddenly realise that this may have been a bad idea. The man who brought you here reaches into his pocket, and your mind is full of vision of him murdering you with a butcher's knife. Instead, he pulls out a piece of paper, crumples it into a ball, and dramatically throws it through a doorway. You try and act impressed. Bravo! 11/10. I had to take a long pause here and just truly appreciate that - if the episode ended here, that would be enough, and I would be content. Unfortunately, I can see that that there is more than half the episode still to go, so presumably some more horrible stuff is going to happen to David. Poor David.

This is interesting - he clearly admits he is lying here, while earlier he doesn't even acknowledge it. Is it that he knows he is lying now, while before he still believed himself to be telling the truth? Perhaps still believes he's telling the truth? Hmm...

This is wonderful - I love bizarre architecture.

Like some enormous, awful labyrinth.

Oh. So they did walk out. Well - some of them.

Is this How and Why again? Like two pictures put together...Hmm...

Now this is really quite scary.

I think you should leave too, David.

Burn the Blueprint! Destroy it! Get rid of it somehow!

I'm glad to see that David is connecting with someone. It's good to have people you can talk with. I can't wait to see how it all goes horribly wrong.

I knew it! The paper ball returns!

It's not going to be safe, is it.

Oh no. No it is not. David, there were four steps leading to the monster's lobby! There are four steps now! You are not safe at all!

1117- is this an important number? I wonder...

Run, David, Run!

Oh no oh no oh no oh no

A monster made of charcoal, or perhaps ink. Art, freed from any frames or canvasses. Hmm...

Wow. That was Something.

And we come back to the water. David's memories from before Eskew have been Distorted - as if seen through rough or rippling water. Meanwhile, his memories of Eskew have been/are being Submerged - as if they are in the depths of the water, hidden just out of view below the surface - or perhaps David is the one in the water, with his memories just out of reach. Hmm...

[codexnuminous]

Eskew 29. Victory

I am in Eskew episode 29 - thoughts.

Hmm?!! What's happened?!

Serves him right.

There is very much a cause for concern. Eskew is spreading. Oh no oh no oh no.

Oh no oh no.

Oh, no.

Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no

Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no

Hmm. Maybe this man's not so bad.

WHAT IS THE GREY ROOM??!! WHAT DOES IT DO??!!

Oh no nononononononono oh no.

I hate them. I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them.

Ah, "JUMP"! Back again!

Nothing will work. You can't kill it.

Oh no. Eskew. No no no no no.

Don't jump.

It is. It was always too late.

Oh no.

Of course. Of course.

Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

You'd lost as soon as you started.

Oh no. Too late. Always too late.

Of course not. That would be too easy.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.