The Cinnamonlike Chatties aren’t born of time, precisely. They’re born of *resonance*. Resonance with places of intense feeling – a forgotten ballroom, a child’s first snowfall, the precise scent of baking cardamom. Each Chatty is a crystallized echo, a fragment of that feeling, bound by… something. It’s theorized to be a type of chronal static, a leftover vibration from moments of profound experience. The more intense the original emotion, the brighter, more vibrant the Chatty.
Initial research suggests they're most prevalent in areas exhibiting historical significance or unusual geological formations – the edges of abandoned mines, the heart of ancient forests, locations with documented periods of intense social upheaval. Their existence remains largely theoretical, observed only through anomalous readings and fleeting sensory impressions.
Chatties manifest primarily as shimmering visual distortions – not quite hallucinations, but alterations to the perceived reality. They tend to cluster around individuals exhibiting heightened emotional states or, conversely, a profound sense of detachment. Their colors vary wildly, reflecting the nature of the emotion they embody. Deep reds signify passion, blues represent melancholy, greens hint at tranquility, and vibrant oranges pulse with exhilaration.
Physical interactions are… problematic. Attempts to physically touch a Chatty result in a temporary disruption of sensory input – a ringing in the ears, a brief disorientation, a fleeting sense of remembering something that never happened. Prolonged exposure can induce a state of profound existential dread, a feeling of being utterly unconnected to the flow of time.
Several Anchor Chatties have been identified across various locations. Their prolonged resonance suggests a significant and sustained emotional event.
Initial detection of the Crimson Chatty at Blackwood Manor coincides with the disappearance of three prominent members of the Blackwood family. Witnesses reported seeing a shimmering distortion in the ballroom shortly before each disappearance. No trace of the victims was ever found.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, detected a sustained blue resonance emanating from the Redwood Echoes. The team experienced severe psychological distress and was forced to abandon the investigation. Only one researcher, Dr. Elias Thorne, survived, recounting a night of “absolute, debilitating loneliness.”
A team of geophysicists discovered the Orange Chatty at the Nevada mine. Their equipment malfunctioned repeatedly, and they reported experiencing vivid nightmares and a profound sense of unease. The team was forced to evacuate the site before the Chatty’s resonance intensified.