# Character State: ch-02

## Elias Thorne
Location: The Archive, Sub-Level 4, Oakhaven.
Physical: Severe sensory overload; hands trembling; bleeding from the nose due to sonic pressure.
Emotional: Transfixed and obsessive; feels a "divine" connection to the signal.
Active obligations: None.
Open loops: [Elias] The significance of the 1927 "Great Silence" signatures (ch-01) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Convinced the signal is actively mimicking his and Sarah's physiological rhythms — Sarah Miller.
Arc: 20% -- Has transitioned from investigative curiosity to a state of ritualistic communion with the signal.
Permanent: YES

## Sarah Miller
Location: The Archive, Sub-Level 4, Oakhaven.
Physical: Near-collapse; debilitating migraine; ears ringing from high-decibel feedback.
Emotional: Terrified and defensive; her logical framework is shattered by the signal's physical manifestation.
Active obligations: Owes Elias investigative support (ch-01) -- PAID (stayed despite the danger).
Open loops: [Sarah] The cause of "ghost-looping" on her digital recorder (ch-01) -- UNRESOLVED; [Sarah/Elias] Survivability of the Archive as the signal's amplitude passes safety thresholds (ch-02) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Secretly recording her own internal dialogue to check for mimicry patterns — Elias Thorne.
Arc: 15% -- Internalized the threat as more than mechanical; her skepticism has been forcibly replaced by survival instinct.
Permanent: YES

# World State: ch-02

## NPC Memory
- The Curator (Oakhaven): UNKNOWN -- Did not appear in this chapter, remains dismissive in last known state.

## Faction Attitudes
- Archive Administration: Hostile -- Automated systems are failing; perceived lack of control over the equipment is blamed on Elias.

## Active World Events
- The Respiration: The signal has shifted from a "breath" to a "shout." It is now generating localized electromagnetic distortions and physical pressure waves.
- Equipment Degradation: Every digital and analog device in Sub-Level 4 is now reflecting the signal, regardless of connectivity.

## Environmental Constants
- Sub-Level 4: Temperature dropped to 42°F; ozone smell replaced by a heavy, metallic "wet iron" scent; lighting is now strobe-like, slaved to the signal's frequency.
- The Resonance: Physical objects (desks, monitors) are beginning to vibrate at a frequency that matches the 1927 ritual patterns.

## Established Lore
- Mirroring: The signal does not just broadcast; it reflects the biological telemetry of the observers, creating a feedback loop between the machine and the human mind.
- Data Persistence: "Ghost-looping" has intensified; the signal is now overdubbing real-time audio with historic 1927 occult chants.