#arbor magnus

[eye-coded-rat]

(ep3) CAT2C8175-03042009-22012024

Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]

“parasitic-garden-that-whispers-with-the-voice-of-the-woman-he-clearly-murderd-and-sort-of-turns-you-into-a-tree” yes, that is murdered spelled incorrectly, yes that is directly from the script

From what I understand, it appears Dr. Samuel Webber murdered his ex-wife because she'd moved on! still has the same surname but she has moved out. So yeah, this guys NOT okay, then he decides to get scratched up in a garden!

Said garden is "growing wild around the ruins of some bombed-out church." that smells of "an almost overwhelming sickly-sweet rot", and he keeps smelling jasmine.

One of my notes for this episode is "gradual acceptance, embraced end"

my favourite part of this statement, a part that really cements the Strangeness and Acceptance (man really said If i'm gonna become Tree i'm gonna Do It Right);

"my skin is pulling away nicely like blanched tomatoes. My legs will be nonresponsive soon. I need to finalise my position before then ... The roots have freed themselves from the weight of my meat as it sags from my bones and drops to the dirt."

directly followed by

"No greenfly or other parasites. I remain quite healthy."

because yes, that's exactly what I'd describe as Quite Healthy....

[wormthing]

Some favourite characters dancing ::•)

(David ward with Eleanor vance; Henry jekyll with Jon sims)

[sassy-pistachy]

(open for full size)

THE MAGNUS PROTOCOL CONSPIRACY BOARD (Ep 19)

The Protocol is the Fire

Members of the Royal Society enact The Protocol to "purge dangerous and unfit knowledge". Right now, we have 3 examples of them destroying dangerous knowledge through fire:

GREAT FIRE OF LONDON of 1666 - Robert Hooke (The Royal Society's Curator of Experiments) talks about trying to find a remedy for the bubonic plague, which hit London in 1665. Then agrees that enacting a "Protocol against the great city of London" was correct, and says "only through the Protocol we were spared of that Dread emission", but hopes next time they will be able to cointain it faster to limit the dimensions of the fire.

ISAAC NEWTON'S LABORATORY FIRE - Robert Hooke writes the letter against Newton in 1684, and talks about Newton's experiments with Alchemy and the Philosopher's Tree (or Diana's Tree). Doubting it's morality, he repeats the need to "enact the Protocol but limit it to his laboratory, destroying his research"

and they blamed his fucking dog?

THE MAGNUS INSTITUTE FIRE of 1999 - I suppose we have no confirmation of this but... I mean. Sam confirms the Institute worked with Alchemy, and no books or files were recovered from the fire. The Royal Society burned the Institute down to destroy dangerous knowledge.

There's so much info in this episode. Lena talked about opposite forces in the world needing balance. What makes them unbalanced? Was the Institute's research in Alchemy tipping the balance to a dangerous side? Does Robert Hooke's letter imply the bubonic plague was maybe the consequence of an imbalance, and thus London needed to be purged with fire? What is the Dread emission he mentions? Is the OIAR working with the Royal Society?

I'm doing another post talking about Newton's experiment with the Arbor Philosophorum, because that shit's interesting, but this is getting really long. Comment your thoughts! Love y'all!

[the-burkle-persona]

Some background for the Magnus Protocols #19, found on Wikipedia:

“Diana's Tree (Latin: Arbor Diana or Dianae), also known as the Philosopher's Tree (Arbor Philosophorum), was considered a precursor to the philosopher's stone…The arborescence of this amalgam, which even included fruit-like forms on its branches, led pre-modern chemical philosophers to theorize the existence of life in the kingdom of minerals.[4]”

“In 2016, a copy of Starkey's recipe for making the Tree of Diana was discovered in a manuscript by Isaac Newton; however, there is no evidence that Newton attempted the process.[10] Newton kept his experiments on alchemy a secret, as the practice was illegal in England at the time. In addition, much of Newton's work regarding alchemy was lost in a fire supposedly started by his dog.[11]”

[theendorisit]

magnus protocol season 1 part 1 praise and credits

all right my lovelies, we are at our Magnus protocol hiatus and you know what that means?

Credit where credit is due, we do not get wonderful stories without wonderful storytellers, and storytellers don’t get to tell stories without the people working tirelessly to bring the story to the audience. So thanks to everyone at Rusty Quill who makes these stories possible! I also want to shout praises to our part 1 guest writers: Graeme Patrick, Cole Weavers, Jamie Petronis, Shaun Pellington. Stellar work everyone!

All credits and my thoughts on each episode are below, so SPOILERSSSSSSSSS, you have been warned.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 1 – First Shift

CAT1RBC5257-12052022-09012024 Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email] CAT23RAB2155-10042022-09012024 Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]

Written by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall

Script Editing by Alexander J Newall and Jonathan Sims 

Thoughts: stunner of a first episode, juggling meeting literally everyone and setting up the huge diversity of case styles we will be seeing. Also shout out to Alex for making sure we got such a banger of a line: ‘Canaries should stay above ground’.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 2 – Making Adjustments

CAT3RBC1567-23092022-18012024 Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Editing by Jonathan Sims 

Thoughts: Like walking down a stone spiral staircase, you never know what the next thing is going to be (but you know it'll be dark and make your stomach drop a little). Enjoying the twist on accurate CS terminology (yes, contractors ARE called Externals).

The Magnus Protocol Episode 3 – Putting Down Roots

CAT2C8175-03042009-22012024 Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]

Written by Graeme Patrick (for more of his work visit https://www.aintslayednobody.com)

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: absolutely now a fan favourite, compelling gruesome body horror, with an intriguing backstory. The slow unravelling of a mind. Brings to mind horrors like Kafka's The Metamorphosis and the film The Ruins (not because they are similar stories necessarily, but, well, vibes). Definitely need more Graeme Patrick in my life!

The Magnus Protocol Episode 4 – Taking Notes

CAT3C7494-19111831-29012024 Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]

Written by Cole Weavers (for more of his work visit https://www.thetownwhispers.com)

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: A curious tale, that gets more curious in the re-hearing. Sure, an instrument plays the player. But how was the teacher driven wild BEFORE the pupil got the special violin? Maybe the chaos was from him, and the violin was a conduit? Got to hear more Cole stories! Dear grandpa Augustus does always tell such lovely stories, if Tim Fearon can narrate my life, that would be great thx. Also - need a promotion? get your windows NT to tattle on your boss! Lena giving Gertrude vibes with the killing-my-assistants theme.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 5 – Personal Screening

CAT2RB2377-10012023-05022024 Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation [internet blog]

Written by Alexander J Newall and Jamie Petronis (for more of his work visit https://www.thecellarletters.com/)

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall.

Thoughts: I really love this one, it is such a brilliant thrilling story that genuinely has me shouting 'WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? I need more details!!' - which is a hallmark of all good mysteries honestly. Will be on the hunt for more Jamie stories.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 6– Introductions

CAT1RB4824-09022024-12022024 Injury (needles) -/- intimidation [999 call]

Written by Jonathan Sims

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: Needles is a lame tryhard. I love him. Also Alice referring to Lena as 'Big Bird' is hilarious. Also, yay, Celia!

The Magnus Protocol Episode 7 – Give and Take

CAT2RC3338-03022016-12022024 Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation [email]

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: I really hope that Mr Clayton turns up again. As the remains of a crime scene. Also, worldbuilding: hello Oxford. hello people in what is essentially an antique shop repeating the same phrases. Getting déjà vu. And Gwen, you know the Civil Service is really easy to move around, right? You can get a secondment, a loan, a transfer, there's internal job adverts... are you sure you want a promotion?

The Magnus Protocol Episode 8 – Running on Empty

CAT2RBC3366-12072023-28022024 Architecture (liminal) -/-hunger [coursework]

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: I feel like I just experienced a TMA/Backrooms crossover and I can dig it. Interesting repetition of ... repetition as a theme ('people' repeating phrases over and over). I like this one a lot, I feel that it communicates a great deal about the way this universe (or at least, its spooky experiences) works. Also, I really really hope Gee Gee is a villain in this story, just so Sue Sims can be the tiny cackling witch she was destined to be.

Interestingly, the official transcript has the name Hostile Workplace - an early title perhaps?

The Magnus Protocol Episode 9 – Rolling With It

CAT3RB3354-14101998-08032024 Dice (bone) -/- fate [Magnus Statement]

Written by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: This is a fun one, and does put an interesting twist on the idea of owning an artefact, that one could compel others to take the negative consequences. Can't decide if the ending (oh one last time) is too predictable - but definitely immensely satisfying. Also, I'm not sure if the truck/diner death is a direct reference to a final destination movie ending, but I noticed some similarities.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 10 – Saturday Night

CAT1RB2275-06082021-09032024 Mascot (kids) -/- murder [TV interview]

Written by Jonathan Sims

Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: appropriately named! The sound design for this episode gives me intensely-visual mental images of the TV interview, and I really want a YouTube video unpacking the Bonzo Butcher and his crimes, timelines, arrest, everything.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 11 – Marked

CAT23RC5246-06012020-11032024 Tattoo (corpse) -/- compulsion [email exchange]

Written by Jonathan Sims

Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall  

Thoughts: Shirley Jackson Susan Hill called, she wants to know when she can have her haunted typewriter back.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 12 – Getting Off

CAT1RB4728-09032024-13032024 Mascot (kids) -/- frenzy [insurance claim]

Written by Alexander J Newall 

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims  

Thoughts: Possibly my favourite so far. Alex is bringing the gory horror and it's perfect. Excellent descriptive storytelling - opening a guy's head like a book is a visual I did not know I needed.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 13 – Futures

CAT3RB4622-17092023-14032024 Gambling (application) -/- murder [voicemail]

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: Can someone get Alex in as a writer for Black Mirror? The series might actually get good as a result. Also can someone start a series tally for died in a hospital bed due to wickedly cool sound design? Thanks. Death by personal adjustment is giving TMA season 5 Mortal Garden vibes.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 14 – Pet Project

CAT1RB4426-01081995-15032024 Transformation (snake) -/-horde

Written by Shaun Pellington (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14461505/)

Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall and Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: Sometimes well-written characters come and punch you in the gut. Character writing isn't always prioritised in horror, as the characters can just be the vehicle through which horror happens. But the transition from report to last message to dad really hit hard, and the story was creepy af. Shaun writes podcasts and voice acts, so check out his stuff.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 15 – Well Run

CAT1RB-6451-22062023-22032024 Hunt (aristocratic) -/- compulsion

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

 Thoughts: the real horror is being forced to be the monster. Yet you had a choice, you chose the monster, before anyone else could. I will always praise the sound team, though it is amazing how a shot through a window also kinda sounds like a brick wall falling down. I enjoyed Alice's run-in with the drowned woman, great writing, sound design and authentically chaotic. Also, let us all simp for Lady Mowbray, purely because it disgusts Jonny.

The official transcript also has an alternate name Good Show

I know exactly what Jonny means about disgust for the aristocracy, but his reaction is too funny to not do it.

PSA - nellie the elephant was dropped as a CPR technique bc you need to depress a chest by 2 inches to pump someone's heart, and compressions were too shallow when people used that song. Another One Bites The Dust and Stayin' Alive are better rhythms to use.

 The Magnus Protocol Episode 16 – Anti-social

CAT1RB1565-30102023-25032024 Tattoo(influencer)-/- Cardiac

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: I genuinely really like this case and the character. Sure, cringy, but she's young, overexcited, and wants attention, like every other human being on the planet. I think she's quite a compelling character to follow, as she trips headlong into abject misery. Spectacular sound design on the death scene.

Also, a lot of people were complaining about the slang, but given the load of cringy slang that the fandom made the cast read out: this episode was 100% deserved. You want them to call their characters dummy thicc? You made your cringy slang bed, now lie in it (I say with love, affection, and sarcasm).

I am aware part of the complaints were that non-AAVE characters were using AAVE - but unfortunately, that is how real life, and real slang use, works. For example, the word 'cool' meaning good, has been around since the 1930's, and originated from Black Americans in the Jazz scene. Now, everyone uses it. I can't comment on whether this is good or right (and I don't think the show does either), only that the show's use/misuse of slang is accurate to real life.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 17 – Saved Copy

CAT2RC1147-30111997-04042024 Doppleganger (interdimensional) -/- murder

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: Alex and Jonny are very good at twisting existing formats. Evil Twin/Doppleganger? Oh he'll want to kill you, replace you, drain your life, steal your existen- oh he wants a friend to play in his murder dungeon? That's new! Also, the receptionist and orchid-pervert - stop being a tease Alex!

The Magnus Protocol Episode 18 – Solo Work

CAT1RC2374-20032024-10042024 Memory (derelict) -/- compulsion

Written by Jonathan Sims

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: How can a body speak without lungs? Autopsy reports are some of my favourite horror (see The Mortuary Assistant game and the autopsy of Jane Doe film). A house full of fog and forgotten poems.

Also, I got the credit details from the official transcript, so I'm not sure if Jonny writing and editing his own script is an error or deliberate, but it is kind of funny on an episode called 'Solo Work'.

Everyone complains about the AQA Anthology (2004) we had to read for English GCSE, but I loved it intensely.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 19 – Hard Reset

CAT13RBC1137-21031684-11042024 Transformation (canine) -/- growth (Crystalline)

Written by Alexander J Newall

Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims

Thoughts: Alex writes the word 'Christendom' in a story and is immensely happy about it. I get the deep suspicion that Alex and Jonny have 'Edward-Kun'-ed the boys into a horrific electronic chimera a la Full Metal Alchemist. Excellent world-building. Wonder if the 'Protocol' is going to be 'yeah, we find people acting sus, and we teach them what the second part of 'fuck around and find out' actually entails'. Also COLIN ISN'T DEAD YET. YAYYYYY.

The Magnus Protocol Episode 20 – Social Stigma

CAT1RAB2534-12042024-12042024 Transformation (tattoo) -/- Social Media (influencer)

Written by Jonathan Sims

Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall

Thoughts: Talking to a supernatural person... in person. I love it. Interesting dialogue on parasocial relationships and Gwen trying and failing to be an authority figure is hilarious (I am very similar!). Gwen's playlist is just RESPECT covered by Aretha Franklin on repeat. She can't get no respect ever.

Created by Jonathan Sims (@jonnywaistcoat)  and Alexander J Newall (@rqbossman) Directed by Alexander J Newall  Executive Producers April Sumner, Alexander J Newall, Jonathan Sims, Dani McDonough, Linn Ci, and Samantha F.G. Hamilton Associate Producers Jordan L. Hawk, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, Cetius d’Raven, and Megan Nice Produced by April Sumner    Featuring (in order of appearance) Billie Hindle as Alice Dyer

Kazeem Tosin Amore as Teddy Vaughn Anusia Battersby as Gwendolyn Bouchard (@anouchard) Shahan Hamza as Samama Khalid Sarah Lambie as Lena Kelley Alexander J Newall as Norris Jonathan Sims as Chester Kate Sketchley as Daria Jenny Haufek as Therapist

Tim Fearon as Augustus Paul Schmidt as Klaus

Hattie Quinlan as Operator 1 Harry Roebuck as Needles Tom Park as Operator 2 Joe Bence as Police Operator Lowri Ann Davies as Celia Ripley

Jon Gracey as Gerry Keay Sue Sims as Gertrude Robinson

Catherine Luff as Geraldine Hardy Steve Newman as Nigel Dickerson

Uncredited as Mr. Bonzo Beth Eyre as [Error]

Zena Carswell as Answerphone Euan Shedden as DarrienEp

Jesse Hawke as Voicemail Danny Scarre as Caterer Ellie Dickens as Lady Mowbray Yanick Ghanty as Luke Dyer Lara Sawalha as Drowning Victim

Vera Chok as Ink5oul Ki Griffin as Madam E

Sasha Sienna as Georgie Barker (@sashasienna)

----

Dialogue Editor – Lowri Ann Davies Sound Designers – Tessa Vroom, Katharine Seaton, Meg McKellar, Mastering Editor - Catherine Rinella

Music by Sam Jones (orchestral mixes by Jake Jackson) Art by April Sumner    Fabulous work everyone! Can't wait for the next part!

Official transcripts:

[tribbetherium]

'A loud, baritone bellowing echoes through the disnut forests of Mesoterra, rumbling the branches of its arboreal perch with vibrations, for while the whistlards, small rattiles iconic for their prominent vocal pouches and distinctive musical calls, are typically small animals measuring a few centimeters in length, they do include some larger relatives in the Middle Temperocene as the warm climates proved a boon to the diversity of the rattiles as a whole. The oaky boomer (Sonorosauromys magnus) is the largest of the whistlards, reaching lengths of over a meter and weighing up to ten kilograms, and is notable for producing resonating calls that can be heard for great distances, up to a kilometer or more in good weather. Its capacity for making loud noises has many uses, from signalling its readiness to mate to faraway partners, ward off rivals from its territory by sounding larger and more intimidating, and startle potential predators with sudden loud cries. However, despite its deafening voice, the oaky boomer too is capable of stealth and silence. Blending in to mottled bark, it is perfectly camouflaged as it lies patiently in wait, ready to ambush a wide variety of small prey that may include ratbats, pterodents, squizzels, smaller rattiles and occasionally even the small lemunkies of the region.'

-------------

[helpimstuckposting]

The Category System in TMA

I want to preface by saying this isn’t my theory but I cannot for the life of me find the original post, if anyone knows what post I’m talking about please PLEASE tell me, it’s driving me insane

The theory I saw (a while ago, maybe around episode 10?) proposed that categories 1, 2, and 3 all represent nouns. Person (1), Place (2), and Thing (3)

I’m genuinely shocked this hasn’t gained more traction because I’ve yet to disprove this and every single episode just keeps working with this theory, so I wanted to list out every episode as further proof

Episode 1

CAT1RBC5257-12052022-09012024 Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]

CAT23RAB2155-10042022-09012024 Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]

Cat1 (person) - reanimated corpse, though I think the focus is more about the person they paid to bring their husband back, which implies there some mystery guy out there with this ability

Cat23 (place, thing) - the magnus institute, and the box with runes that red canary stole

Episode 2

CAT3RBC1567-23092022-18012024 Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]

Cat3 (thing) - the tattoo from ink5oul is the main focus, though other ink5oul episodes are focused on them and use cat1 (which has confused people, but this theory explains that imo)

Episode 3

CAT2C8175-03042009-22012024 Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]

Cat2 (place) - the garden is what started changing the man making the statement (also seemed to exist as its own entity outside the regular flow of time)

Episode 4

CAT3C7494-19111831-29012024 Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]

Cat3 (thing) - the violin (the power of the violin still remains even if the object itself changes hands, which means the power lies with the violin and not the people controlling it)

Episode 5

CAT2RB2377-10012023-05022024 Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation [internet blog]

Cat2 (place) - the movie theater (or wherever the movie itself is being played, I assume the statement giver did not make it out of that location)

Episode 6

CAT1RB4824-09022024-12022024 Injury (needles) -/- intimidation [999 call]

Cat1 (person) - Needles

Episode 7

CAT2RC3338-03022016-12022024 Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation [email]

Cat2 (place) - Hilltop Center, Oxford (By episode 20, Oxford has been mentioned multiple times, which is why I think the location is significant here)

Episode 8

CAT2RBC3366-12072023-28022024 Architecture (liminal) -/- hunger [coursework]

Cat2 (place) - the liminal space of Forton Service Station

Episode 9

CAT3RB3354-14101998-08032024 Dice (bone) --/-- fate [Magnus Statement]

Cat3 (thing) - the dice (again, the power of the dice remains the same, even when the dice themselves change hands)

Episode 10

CAT1RB2275-06082021-09032024 Mascot (kids) -/- murder [TV interview]

Cat1 (person) - Mr Bonzo, Nigel Dickerson

Episode 11

CAT23RC5246-06012020-11032024 Tattoo (corpse) -/- compulsion [email exchange]

Cat23 (place, thing) - Padstow civil cemetery, tattoo (the reason I believe this isn't a Cat1 despite it being ink5oul is because we know from episode 20 that the tattoos themselves had special powers, regardless of ink5oul and that ink5oul only started getting their powers after they continuously used the pre-existing designs - this is new information that imo further confirms this theory rather than debunking it)

Episode 12

CAT1RB4728-09032024-13032024 Mascot (kids) -/- frenzy [insurance claim]

Cat1 (person) - Mr Bonzo

Episode 13

CAT3RB4622-17092023-14032024 Gambling (application) -/- self-destruction [voicemail]

Cat3 (thing) - the Zorrotrade investment app

Episode 14

CAT1RB4426-01081995-15032024 Transformation (snake) -/- horde

Cat1 (person) - shop keeper that burst into snakes (the investigator describes no other infestation, and only mentions one hole and one possible squirrel, while the shopkeeper causes all other chaos. We also know that the shopkeeper was being considered by the Magnus Institute before being rejected, like Sam, making this shopkeeper a relatively important person)

Episode 15

CAT1RB6451-22062023-22032024 Hunt (aristocratic) -/- compulsion

Cat1 (person) - Lady Mowbray

Episode 16

CAT1RB1565-30102023-25032024 Tattoo (influencer) -/- cardiac

Cat1 (person) - ink5oul (this one was specifically about ink5oul, rather than the main focus being the tattoo itself)

Episode 17

CAT2RC1147-30111997-04042024 Doppelganger (interdimensional) -/- murder

Cat2 (place) - this one people keep focusing on categorizing the doppelganger, but I think the key focus of the episode is actually the Magnus Institute – Oxford Outreach Centre (another instance of Oxford, another connection to Ep7)

Episode 18

CAT1RC2374-20032024-10042024 Memory (derelict) -/- compulsion

Cat1 (person) - Violet Parker, talking corpse; [ERROR]

Episode 19

CAT13RBC1137-21031684-11042024 Transformation (canine) -/- growth (Crystalline)

Cat13 (person, thing) - Isaac Newton, Diana’s Tree

Episode 20

CAT1RAB2534-12042024-12042024 Transformation (tattoo) -/- Social Media (influencer)

Cat1 (person) - ink5oul (very clearly, this episode is about ink5oul and not about any of their tattoos, though they were in the middle of tattooing a corpse. I think the tattoo is irrelevant to this incident, which is why it's only a 1 and not a 13)

Episode 21

CAT2RBC4254-04011998-12042024 Architecture (landmark) -/- corruption (entropy)

Cat2 (place) - Millennium Dome (also happens to be The Magnus Institute, but I think the main focus is obviously the dome)

I think the *only* one that could be argued as not really fitting is MAGP5 - since you could argue the movie is a thing, and it’s not really the theater as the place, but compared to the odds of other theories that have way more holes this one is so spot on imo

This is the theory I’ve been comparing the categories to every single episode and I haven’t found anything to significantly disprove it, so I just wanted to highlight it one more time in case others haven’t seen it!

[shizucheese]

So full disclosure, I actually listened to episode 7 on Saturday, but this episode had so damn much to it and I got a bit side tracked by a theory that I'm still working on but I really want to get this out before episode 8 comes out.

As usual, if you want to see the continuously updated and reblogged version of my red string board, you can find it here.

Today is Tuesday, 2/27/24. Episode 7 came out 5 days ago on 2/22/24.

“Talkers”

Norris (Voice: Martin?/ Alex)

Episode 1: “Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]”. The Stranger? The End? The Dark? The Lonely? The Flesh? Arthur (Nolan?).

Episode 3: "Infection (full body" -/- Arboreal [Journal entry]". The Spiral? (Paranoia? Auditory, visual and olfactory hallucinations) The Lonely? The Corruption. The Flesh? (Callbacks to the Flesh Garden from S5)

Common Themes: Hearing the voice of a dead/ missing loved one?

Chester (Voice: John?/ Jonny)

Episode 1: “Transformation (eyes) -/- Tresspass [chat log]”. Magnus Institute, The Eye. (Involves a forum; the Web?).

Episode 5: "Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation [Internet blog]". The Eye (Movies. Movie name: "Voyeur" "Must be seen to be believed"...). The Web? (Another website?). (Very reminiscent of Mag 110: Creature Feature.) The "poor old guy" at the theater is totally an Eye avatar, right? Kinda gives me "Simon Fairchild when he was first introduced" vibes.

Episode 7: "Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation [email]". The Stranger. The Burried. The Desolation. Possibly all of them if my theory about the items the Volunteers brought in is correct...

Unsure if this is Eye related like the other statements were. This is also the first "Chester" statement where the source material wasn't from a website or blog, which don't have the same expectation of privacy that the sources of the other statements do. Email, though, so still internet related, and this seems to be an open letter rather than personal correspondence, so it still might align with the theme.

Agustus: (rare?)

Episode 4: “Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]” The End. The Lonely? The Slaughter.

Letter writer thinks passing on his violin might allow a part of himself to live on in his nephew. Very Jonah Magnus of him.

Music teacher hears “faraway music”, then goes crazy and throws himself out of the carriage and dies. Reminiscent of Mag7 and the Piper? The merchant’s wares include dice (Mag 29?). Got the violin from him (took his blood?). Effect of the violin reminiscent to Grifter’s Bone (Mag 42).

(Oliver Bardwell lol very funny guys)

Non-Talkers (?)

Episode 2: "Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]". The Spiral? The Flesh. The Stranger. Ink 5oul (avatar/ entity?)

Episode 6: "Injury (needles) -/- intimidation [999 call] "Corruption? The Spiral? The Flesh? The End?

"Needles" reminds me of Michael!Distortion.

Notes and Thoughts:

"It's not like we're dealing with Tape Recorders..." I'm side eying you real hard, Celia. And what's with all of the questions? The "looking for patterns" question is 100% fair but those examples are AWEFULLY SPECIFIC. I wasn't entirely sure I bought the idea that Celia was the same Celia from TMA, but no this is totally her for sure. "DO YOU KNOW WHO JOHN" IS EXCUSE ME? WHAT REAL STUFF?

HILLTOP CENTER BRANCH?!!! 0 managerial or other support from HR; very reminiscent of the weird circumstances surrounding the house on Hilltop Road. Bear skin rug very reminiscent of the Gorilla Skin in TMA S3. The Volunteers remind me of the medical students from Mag34. The email is about events from 2015. This was the same year Gertrude died and John became the Head Archivist in TMA. Why am I not seeing anyone else talk about this?

I have a theory that I was originally going to put in this post but detangling that giant ball of red string entirely is taking too long so I'm just going to put the TL'DR here and maybe make a proper list later if I can ever finish pulling the string on that particular red sweater. Between the items the Volunteers bring in, and the events of the incident itself, what if every single Entity is represented? The gunshots that were heard were the Slaughter. The fire was the Desolation. The person who wrote the email being crushed by all of the items was the Buried. There are a number of artifacts that get listed off that could represent at least one if not multiple Entities (which might be their purpose; considering how many times the fact that the categorization was imperfect got brought up in TMA, it's probably more helpful to view them as a spectrum more than anything else), including some that are very reminiscent of things from specific TMA statements (The bear skin rug -> The Gorilla skin, Old medical equipment -> the syringe in mag 45? The telescope -> Maxwell Rayner was originally Edmond Halley, the Astronomer, etc. etc). So...okay, hear me out: what if this was all part of a ritual, and that's what the "good cause" was? A ritual that involved all of the fears being represented? Sound familiar? Except instead of it being a ritual to start an apocalypse or reshape the world in the image of one or more of the fears, what if it was a ritual to summon something that was associated with all of the fears? Or, rather, what if it was a ritual to summon someone who had been touched by all of the fears? And that's also why so many of the items seem to be analogous to things from statements and events from TMA? Like....maybe I'm wrong entirely. Or maybe I'm right about this being about summoning someone, or something, (maybe someone from TMA? Maybe Celia?), but wrong about it being John who was being summoned. But, again, this incident took place in 2015, which was the same year Gertrude died and John became head Archivist, and I feel like this means something.

[alexanderlightweight]

please can we have some possessive cat magnus 🙃 😬 I love his cat form, so pretty and cute

Here we go! I hope you enjoy

💜 lumine

—

Magnus rises with an arching stretch, letting himself grow as he kneads his paws and unsheathes his claws. A quick survey of the bed — hanging from an arbor of wysteria — and he purrs as he finds his dragon laid out before him.

For once exactly where Magnus left him.

It’s with delight that Magnus settles himself across Alexander’s dragon form and licking his scales. Alexander awakens with a trill as Magnus drags his tongue down

Alexander shifts and gives him a sleepy smile, the softness of his bared flesh enhanced by the fading light.

Magnus chuffs and brushes his face across Alexander's brow and neck, tongue curling across the salt on his dragon’s jugular.

Alexander submits with good humor and merely lets his head loll back. A dragon’s submission is pleasing, no matter that Magnus’ fangs could hardly rip through his esophagus.

It makes it all the sweeter, that Alexander lets him so close.

Finally content, Magnus settles on top of Alexander and lets himself settle down atop him.

“You’re so soft.”

Alexander murmurs with a happy sigh, his fingers threading through Magnus’ fur.

His fingers — that have touched and coveted and destroyed treasures untold — card through Magnus pelt as if it’s the finest gossamer silk.

There’s a raw and pure delight, as if touching Magnus in this form is as delightful as admiring a true treasure.

It sparks a delicious feeling throughout Magnus and he aches to keep it close and never let it burn out. Alexander is so delightful in his candor.

He purrs and butts his head against Alexander's jaw, very pleased.

Fingers find his ears and rub at the thick, soft fur there with unerring skill. Magnus’ purrs deepen and Alexander trills in response and rests his face against Magnus’ face with a content rumble.

As Magnus coats his tongue with magic and scents Alexander with pheromones and the claim of his magical signature, no one can deny who Alexander belongs to.

Not that he’d let them.

[broodingheroine]

tmagp 19 thoughts

we're late today bc work was busy and I had to take my cat to the vet but we're so back now

hard reset???? I'm scared this is gonna be about colin :/ tech terms yk

alchemy mention!

I'm sorry he knows abt alchemy bc of the institute???? scared!

isaac newton???

what the hell kind of work is isaac newton doing that could be considered blasphemous by another scientist

PROTOCOL. PROTOCOL MENTION.

okay "Dread" is capitalized in the transcript.....

"my curiosity could not be assuage without witness" okay.

okay so.... "arbor philosophorum perfecta." off the top of my head that's abt trees being perfect. so maybe connected to the guy who turned into a tree?

THE CREATURE WAS TAKING ROOT.

WHAT IS. THE PROTOCOL.

"are the computers listeni-" YES. YES THEYRE LISTENING TO YOU.

pls pls pls give me colin pls pls pls

lena I'm in love with you

"remember how you blackmailed me? do your job :)"

ah the bouchard implications again

COLIN!!!!!!!

colin D:

I'm upset

okay so my theory is whatever isaac newton(???????????) made is what the magnus institute gave the kids that passed their evals to turn them into monsters. feel like that's pretty solid considering what we know.

I do NOT know a single thing abt alchemy so I can't even begin to guess what any of the alchemical stuff means

we got colin! but uhhhhh we didn't get colin under the circumstances I would've preferred

think that's it. im so hhhhh.

[wormthing]

i hope you die, i hope we both die

[hazel0159]

A theory as to how the CAT component of the OIAR’s categorization system works:

Each case is given a CAT (category) ranking. The most common are 1, 2, and 3, though 12, 13, 23 are also possible and 123 is theoretically possible. In each case, the supernatural weirdness can be traced back to an origin, and CAT refers to the form that origin takes. 1 is an avatar or humanoid monster. 2 is a location. 3 is an object.

Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret and Injury (needles) -/- intimidation are both 1. The cases were caused by Arthur's reanimated corpse and Needles respectively.

Architecture (liminal) -/-hunger is 2. While there were humanoid manifestations, it is all clearly caused by the location. I mean, it's literally classified under Architecture.

Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation is 2. The movie theater was described in an unusually high amount of detail, making me think it could definitely have been the origin point. Also, if this case was caused by a stationary location, it would explain why the victim had to be drawn to it, rather than it just going to him.

Infection (full body) -/- arboreal is 2. While Webber did turn into an avatar/monster, the source of the manifestations was the garden, which is a location.

Collection (blood) -/- musical and Dice (bone) -/- fate being 3 makes perfect sense. It refers to the violin and dice respectively.

Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass is 23 and the only dual CAT case we’ve gotten so far. The 2 refers to the Magnus Institute. However, going to the ruin wasn’t what cursed RedCanary, it was stealing the symbol-covered box that likely sealed his fate, hence the 3 as well.

EXCEPTIONS:

Dolls (watching) is a 2, although it feels like it should be a 3.

Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation is a 2. I suppose the charity shop could be the source of what happened in that case, and the volunteers and objects were just manifestations it conjured, but that feels like a stretch.

Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic is a 3. I suppose a tattoo could be considered an object? Though I don’t know why the origin was considered to be the tattoo instead of Ink5oul

[makingnewmistakes]

MAGNUS PROTOCOL SPOILERS (Episode 3)

ME, reading "Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]" in the episode description:

...Motherfucker turned into a tree.

ME, hearing "Journal... Found within a water-damaged black briefcase, partially buried, penetrated by mouldy roots":

...Motherfucker turned into a TREE.

ME, after the episode ended:

...

...

...Motherfucker turned into a TREE!

[rebeccasteventaylor]

Magnus Protocol 19 spoilers (again - what the fuck?!)

Celia is printing research on alchemy? And Sam recognises it? AND CELIA JJST CALLED SAM AN ALCHEMIST!

Sam, what do you mean the Magnus Institute was into alchemy.

Oh, Alice wants Sam to stop researching the Institute - trying to protect him cos SHE KNOWS

Chester!

Boyle and Hooke?! Oh, we are getting into Magnus founding territory now.

Protocol against Newton? Newton was into alchemy - so is this what the Magnus Protocol is - against alchemy?

Homburg is real and also into alchemy.

Aargh - when Hooke met Newton there was a brief moment of the Archives music!

Oh! We’re going back to the transformation of the man into plant!

So the protocol destroys the alchemy work?

Bit of googling and Arbor Philsophorum Perfecta is the philosophers tree? I think…

Are they - is the Magnus Protocol - something about stopping the fears being created in the first place?

(Listening this so soon after hearing Jonathan Sims play Dr Seward makes the whole casement sound very gothic horror)

Oh, Sam has figured out the computers are listening…

Colin has had a breakdown? And not contacting Alice? But where is he? And why does the computer keep blocking Alice?

Love this part in the transcript ‘GWEN is in the middle of a heated argument with Lena. Or she would be, if Lena wasn’t so ice cold.’

Ooh, what was that dig about Gwen’s family?

And Lena doesn’t like Starkwall - the security company. She’s trying to stop Gwen isn’t she? She wants Gwen to quit.

Lena’s manner is terrible but I coming to believe she really is trying to do the right thing, she really so is trying to protect the OIAR

Colin! My beloved!

‘We can’t let him know how much we know’ him? Who? ‘What I need is not to be seen. He sees too much already’ what you mean like The Eye!!!!!

Ooh, so the alchemy is trying to stop the world being destroyed..

Mummy and Daddy Stasi? Who’s that?

Colin really is beginning to remind me of the people Jon forced statements from.

Lots and lots being planned for the big season finale next week

[tribbetherium]

The Late Rodentocene: 20 million years post-establishment

Pop Goes The Squeasel: Squeasels of the Late Rodentocene

Once just small, agile predators that hunted small prey both on the ground and in the trees, the long-bodied squeasels have diversified across many ecological niches as of the Late Rodentocene. The squeasels have since become the primary predators of the time period, usurping the earlier hammibals and spreading across the main continents of Nodera, Easaterra, and Westerna: but, notably, arrive far later to Ecatoria, allowing the hammibals to dominate there instead.

The desert meerca (Paramustelamys manori) is one such latecomer: having arrived to Ecatoria when the hammibals had already given rise to the predatory hamyenas, it was too late to claim the local ecosystem's niche of top predator. Thus, the meercas and kin continued to survive on the Ecatorian mainland, but only as small-scale predators, foragers, and insectivores, banding together in tight-knit family groups or seeking refuge in the presence of larger, symbiotic animals, in order to defend themselves from the hamyenas to whom they had become prey.

Similarly, the bare-tailed diremouse (Macrorattocricetus magnus) would grow to a larger size than its Middle Rodentocene kin, but not specialize much further. It and the rest of its group, the scabbers, would remain another set of small-scale hunters comparable to shrews and mustelids, that would only find success much later on Isla Centralis in the Glaciocene when the isolation and lack of larger competition would allow them to become the local primary carnivore clade. For now, the bare-tailed diremouse contents itself with a niche of a small and unremarkable forest-floor predator, preying on insects, furbils and duskmice.

But elsewhere, other lineages of squeasels, particularly the ferrats, are thriving and diversifying in this incoming new era of ever-larger prey. The striped panthster (Protopantherocricetus longicauda) is one of the largest carnivores alive at the time, adapted for hunting and preying upon the increasingly bigger hamtelopes and cavybaras of the Late Rodentocene. Bearing powerful jaws, semi-retractable claws and a long tail that aids it in balance when stalking and ambushing its prey, this cunning ambush predator continues its ancestors' abilities to tackle large prey with the help of cutting incisors and shearing molars that allow it to put animals bigger than itself on its menu.

Meanwhile, up in the treetops, the arboreal bossums too have prospered, in particular with the abundance of tree-dwelling prey, such as squizzels, kiterats, and even the earliest proper flyers, the basal ratbats, that still did roost in the trees. In particular, the beginnings of the early prosimian-like lemunkies have emerged to exploit the bumoer crop of fruit and seeds and small invertebrates in the treetops: but so too would come the lemunky treeasel (Sutormustalamys popii) that would develop opposable digits on both front and back paws that grant it great dexterity and agility in the trees, rivaling that of its lemunky prey. Its predation would, in fact, kickstart the evolution of the lemunkies themselves, becoming larger to better defend themselves, more social, to rely on strength in numbers, and, consequently, more intelligent as a side-effect of their increased sociality.

And with an abundance of vacant aquatic niches, some of the ferrats would take to the water and become the searets: excellent swimmers and ferocious hunters that paddled with their flat webbed feet and used their tail to steer, making them quite maneuverable. These semiaquatic predators would diversify quickly first in freshwater and later coastal habitats, preying on shrish, gastropods, pondrats and even ambushing small terrestrial animals coming to the water to drink. But an important turning point would be the marsh searet (Lutrodiromys atrox), a particularly large species that specialized on hunting hard-shelled shrish, using powerful jaws to crush their exoskeletons. It and its close relative, the lake searet, would be the early pioneers of a clade that soon found its way to the Centralic Ocean, where their skill at hunting large shrish allowed them to usurp the shrarks as the reefs' primary large predators.

In the Therocene, these new specialized squeasels would be the forerunners to the major carnivore clades of the era. From the striped panthster would arise the large ambush-hunting carnohams that would become apex predators adapted for hunting boingos and hamtelopes in the plains as they developed longer limbs and shorter tails, shedding their mustelid-like build in favor of a more-feline one, while in the treetops, from the treeasel would descend the treegers, arboreal lemunky-predators that evenly match their agile quarry in the forest canopy. And in the oceans, still mostly devoid of hamsters, the coming of the searets and their subsequent displacement of the shrarks would prove conducive to allowing other clades such as the bayvers and the cricetaceans to finally take to the sea, while the searets would give rise to the leviahams, numbering among them some of the biggest marine predators during the Glaciocene when the cold seas were at their most productive and conducive to biodiversity.

--------------

[ashironie]

ep 1

CAT1RBC5257-12052022-09012024

Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]

CAT23RAB2155-10042022-09012024

Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]

ep 2

CAT3RBC1567-23092022-18012024

Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]

ep 3

CAT2C8175-03042009-22012024

Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]

ep 4

CAT3C7494-19111831-29012024

Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]

ep 5

CAT2RB2377-10012023-05022024

Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation [internet blog]

ep 6

CAT1RB4824-09022024-12022024

Injury (needles) -/- intimidation [999 call]

ep 7

CAT2RC3338-03022016-12022024

Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation [email]

ep 8

CAT2RBC3366-12072023-28022024

Architecture (liminal) -/-hunger [coursework]

ep 9

CAT3RB3354-14101998-08032024

Dice (bone) -/- fate [Magnus Statement]

ep 10

CAT1RB2275-06082021-09032024

Mascot (kids) -/- murder [TV interview]

ep 11

CAT23RC5246-06012020-11032024

Tattoo (corpse) -/- compulsion [email exchange]

ep 12

CAT1RB4728-09032024-13032024

Mascot (kids) -/- frenzy [insurance claim]

ep 13

CAT3RB4622-17092023-14032024

Gambling (application) -/- self-destruction [voicemail]

ep 14

CAT1RB4426-01081995-15032024

Transformation (snake) -/-horde

ep 15

CAT1RB-6451-22062023-22032024

Hunt (aristocratic) -/- compulsion