Inspectolings
Time First Spotted: 7:30pm
Date of Encounter: 7/14/16
Location: Near Borderlings of interest, on top of buildings
Weather: Overcast
Visibility: Single, Group Optional
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The Inspectolings (Inspectio, Latin for "survey" or "to look into" with the suffix of "ling"), the Surveillance Borderlings, exist to monitor the routines and manifestations of other Borderlings. It resembles a small mammal with a body and tail of a rodent and the legs and head of a feline. Soft, brown fur adorns the Borderling's body, with a lighter coloration on their ears and underbelly. Its head and wings are completely holographic, but they function as if they're organic: It can hold onto objects and eat with its mouth, and can flap its wings although it's able to levitate. Colored bright pink or soft lavender, the holograms slightly pulse and flicker, and are indicators of the Inspectolings' health. When stressed, disoriented or ill, their faces and wings break and flickering becomes prominent. If dead, they display no wings and head completely, exposing white voids on their shoulder blades and heads.
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Their speech patterns resemble that of a bird, with rhythmic chirping sung repetitively when communicating. Small bells, as heard in toys and dolls, can occasionally heard when the Inspectolings leap and jump.
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Their Appearance
“You can't assume any place you go is private because the means of surveillance are becoming so affordable and so invisible.”
Howard Rheingold
Where To Find Them
The Inspectolings appear whenever a another Borderling arrives, but not always of the same kind. 1 out of 6 Borderlings has an Inspectoling 30ft away from them, watching in high places such as the edges of rooftops or at the peaks of pylons. After a Borderling of interest manifests into our world, an Inspectoling flickers into existence soon after, followed by a small flash. They levitate for a second before landing on the surface below. They then decide to either fly toward the nearest Borderling or settle in their given location, waiting for another one to manifest. Their arrival creates a high-pitched buzzing sound in peoples' ears 10ft in radius close by, similar to tinnitus.
Signs of Inspectoling activity are faint streaks of light, flying similarly to that of glowing ribbons. On some occasions, a multitude of holographic eyes are seen in places of interest. They are fully-functional, moving and blinking, as they're keeping watch over a specific place.
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Effects Towards Our Environment
Immediately after their arrival, the Inspectolings begin monitoring their surroundings. If a group manifests in one place, they part ways and go in different directions. If there are no other Borderlings nearby, they use their eyes on their snout to project copies of the same eye on any solid immovable surface such as walls and trees. They cannot apply an eye to any moveable object; the hologram would disintegrate as soon as the object moves.
Once a group of eyes spotted a Borderling, the Inspectoling teleports to their location to accompany them until they depart.
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Behaviors Toward Witneses
Timid towards human beings, the Inspectolings keep their distance. However, they'll display curiosity towards Witnesses who display hospitality towards other Borderlings or have a Personal Borderling active. An Inspectoling begins to visit their companion by following them into their homes or places to stay.
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If a Witness touches the Borderling, it telepathically shares with the Witness the knowledge of the Borderlings it had seen, including their own Borderling species. Height, weight, effects and behaviors are shortly embedded into the person's mind while the Inspectoling is present. The Witness has to write the information down before the memory fades away within 3 hours.
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Behaviors Toward Other Borderlings
The Inspectolings keep an eye (or eyes) out for any Impurities, and other deviant behaviors, from Borderlings they watch. Once they find any odd behaviors, the Inspectolings rush in and touch the Borderlings with their conical noses. In an similar way to interacting with Witnesses, they telepathically embed memories and data to the affected Borderlings, helping them recall their routines and duties while here on Earth.
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Impure Behaviors
The Inspectolings themselves aren't immune to Impurities, thus acting out of frustration or malice. When touching a Borderling or Witness, they provide mismatched information, albeit poorly, causing confusion to the individual. Depending on the person, it can be viewed as humorous or baffling. The only method to cure an Inspectoling is to have it in a group of other Inspectolings. Once the group recognizes the Impurities of the single Borderling, they gather around in a pile, giving the other a form of a hug, embracing the affected with their wings. This affectionate greeting cleanses any illnesses that the affected Borderling has before splitting up once again.
7/14 "A small creature came into my room this evening. At first, it would not let me touch it, but will allow me to watch it jump around the tree branch near the window."
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7/16 "I just came back home after studying, and the creature was in my room! It seemed bolder than usual, probably opening up to me a bit more. As I come close, something dropped from the shelf behind it, and it became startled, leaping right into my face! I started to..."
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"...I have to write them down before I forget. When it touched my face, I suddenly had strange visions and knowledge. Although the rest had faded away, I had written the name, height, weight and descriptions of a few creatures. It's almost as if I'm in a dream, but I'm wide awake."
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7/19 "It came back, looking apologetic, head hung downward and not as perky as it was. I just told it it had nothing to feel guilty about,and gave it a gentle yet. A small memory this time, about itself. The Inspectoling, as the name in my mind suggests, decided to stay with me. My tenant who I pay rent to would never allow pets, so I have to hide it from anyone."
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7/23 "The Inspectoling wanted me to follow it to the back of a building where the newsstand was, mostly to meet the newspaper monster in my visions. But as soon as we turn the corner, Vivian was there! I know she doesn't like rats, so I was afraid to show her the creature. The thing just flew in between us anyway. Great. I was relieved to seeing her liking the fellow? She said it's kind of cute. I guess it was an exception."
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"We didn't see anyone bat an eye to the strange, flying mouse that was accompanying us, as if it wasn't even there. Strange, could it chose to be seen by us?"
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