Buak: The Wedding and the Radio Entity
The Buak map presents one of the most unusual and unsettling scenarios in the Unturned world. Unlike the California collapse, which followed a predictable pattern of infrastructure failure and faction formation, Buak's collapse cannot be attributed to any conventional cause. The grid failed here as it did elsewhere. The supply chains collapsed. The population died or fled. But superimposed over this familiar collapse pattern is something that does not fit any known disaster model.
A radio entity broadcast on emergency frequencies before the collapse. It continued broadcasting after every human operator was gone. It addressed survivors by name with information it should not have possessed. It predicted events that no surveillance network could have known. And then it stopped, leaving behind a final message that has defied all analysis.
This article documents the Buak collapse as understood by the 57 Studios cohort. It covers the wedding of Amber and Viola, the only documented event that drew the entire surviving population of the region into one location at the moment of the collapse. It documents the Cleansers, a religious faction that emerged in response to the radio entity's broadcasts. It catalogs the four boss souls that the Cleansers left behind. And it reconstructs the final transmission, which ended with three words: I TRIED TO RUN.
The Wedding of Amber and Viola
The Couple
Amber Chen and Viola Torres were residents of Edmonton, the largest settlement in the Buak region before the collapse. Amber was a schoolteacher who had taught at Edmonton's combined primary and secondary school for eleven years before the collapse. Viola was a carpenter who had built much of Edmonton's early fortification infrastructure. They had been together for six years before the collapse. Their relationship was well known in Edmonton and was widely respected. The community saw them as a stable presence in a world where stability had become rare.
Wedding Preparations
The wedding was scheduled for what would become the last day of organized civilian life. The date was the anniversary of the day they had met at a community gathering. They had been planning the wedding for more than a year. They accumulated supplies through months of careful provisioning. They invited the entire Edmonton population and survivors from every settlement within traveling distance.
The wedding was held at the Edmonton Community Church, a pre-collapse structure maintained by volunteers. The church was the largest enclosed space in Edmonton, capable of holding approximately three hundred people. On the day of the wedding, every seat was filled. Additional attendees stood along the walls, in the doorway, and outside the building.
The Ceremony
The cohort has recovered three independent accounts of the wedding. The first is a written account by Patricia Okonkwo, an Edmonton resident who attended the wedding. The second is a fragmentary audio recording discovered in the Edmonton town hall. The third is a series of photographs recovered from a camera found in a residential building.
Patricia Okonkwo's written account is the most complete.
"The church was full. I had never seen that many people in one place since before the collapse. Everyone was dressed in whatever they had that was clean and presentable. Amber wore a white dress that someone had found in an abandoned house and altered to fit her. Viola wore a suit jacket that she had been saving for years, kept in a trunk with mothballs to preserve it. They looked happy. They looked like people who had forgotten, for a few hours, what the world outside the church doors had become."
The audio recording captures approximately eleven minutes of the ceremony. At approximately the nine-minute mark, the ambient noise shifts. Attendees begin to murmur. A voice speaks to someone nearby.
"The radio at the edge of town. It started broadcasting again. A voice. It knows my name."
The recording continues for approximately two more minutes before it cuts off.
The Dispersal
Patricia Okonkwo's account describes what happened after the interruption.
"The ceremony stopped. People began to leave the church, not running but walking with purpose. Someone said that the radio was broadcasting again and that this time it was saying things that could not be ignored. Things about specific people. Things about what those people had done. Things that no one should have known. Amber and Viola stood at the front of the church, still holding hands, watching the congregation leave. I saw Viola's face. She knew that the wedding was over. She knew that the world outside was not going to let them have this one day."
Amber and Viola remained in Edmonton for approximately two weeks. They were last seen alive on the day the Cleansers arrived.
The Radio Entity
First Contact
The radio entity that became known as Kirie was first detected six months before the collapse. A civilian radio operator in Edmonton detected a voice on emergency frequencies. The voice did not identify itself. It did not respond to queries. It appeared to be reading from a script.
The voice was female. It spoke in a measured, deliberate cadence. It did not use contractions. It did not vary its pitch for emphasis. The operator described the voice as synthesized rather than natural.
An early transcript from the operator's log demonstrates the entity's characteristic speech pattern.
"This is a broadcast on an automated loop. If you are hearing this broadcast, you are receiving on a frequency that was designated for emergency use. This frequency was designated for emergency use by an international agreement that is no longer in effect. The agreement ceased to be in effect because the institutions that maintained it ceased to exist. You are hearing this broadcast because you are alive. If you were not alive, you would not be hearing this broadcast. That is the only meaning this broadcast has."
The content of the broadcasts changed over time. The early broadcasts were generic and meaningless. Later broadcasts became more specific, referencing events in specific locations and naming individuals.
The Name
The entity never introduced itself by name. The name Kirie was assigned by Edmonton survivors after three months of broadcasts. The name derives from a phonetic transcription of a repeated sound pattern that appeared in every broadcast. The pattern was three syllables that occurred at the same point in every transmission.
The cohort's analysis of the sound pattern has been inconclusive. The pattern does not correspond to any known word in any language present in the pre-collapse Buak region.
"Kirie is not a word that the entity chose. It is a word that we imposed on the entity because we needed to call it something. The entity may not have a name. The entity may not understand the concept of names. We call it Kirie because we cannot call it nothing." Dr. Bekzat Yamak.
Broadcast Categories
The cohort has analyzed thirty-seven recorded Kirie broadcasts. Four distinct categories of content have been identified.
Category one broadcasts contained statements about the state of the Buak region.
"The settlement at Edmonton has received no supply deliveries in seventeen days. The settlement at Edmonton has nineteen days of food remaining at current consumption levels. The weather in the Edmonton region will remain clear for the next three days."
Category two broadcasts contained statements about specific individuals.
"Patricia Okonkwo is awake. Patricia Okonkwo has been awake for forty-seven minutes. Patricia Okonkwo is thinking about the dream she had last night. Patricia Okonkwo does not remember the dream clearly. The dream contained information that Patricia Okonkwo does not consciously possess."
Category three broadcasts contained statements that appeared to predict future events.
"In approximately seventy-two hours, a group of twelve people will approach Edmonton from the northeast. The group will be armed. The group will not respond to verbal challenges."
Category four broadcasts contained statements that the cohort cannot verify or explain.
"The wedding will not be completed. The wedding is not the event. The wedding is the container for the event. The event will occur whether the wedding is completed or not."
The Prediction Accuracy Problem
Dr. Yamak has published the most detailed analysis of the Kirie broadcasts. His central finding is that the predictive accuracy is statistically anomalous.
"The broadcasts demonstrated a level of predictive accuracy that cannot be explained by any known information-gathering methodology. The broadcasts correctly predicted the arrival of the Cleansers, the timing of the Edmonton food supply depletion, and the failure of the evacuation attempt. The broadcasts made errors, but the error rate was lower than would be expected from any intelligence-gathering operation."
Yamak proposes that Kirie may have been a pre-collapse artificial intelligence system.
"The most likely explanation is that Kirie is a machine. It was built before the collapse. It was designed to monitor the region and to broadcast information on emergency frequencies. It survived the collapse because its power supply was independent of the grid. It continues to operate because no one has told it to stop."
The Cleansers
Origin and Theology
The Cleansers were not a pre-collapse organization. They were a post-collapse religious faction that formed in response to the Kirie broadcasts. They believed the radio entity was a divine messenger. They believed the collapse was a purification event.
The Cleansers' theology was based on four central tenets. First, the collapse was an intentional act of purification. Second, the survivors had been judged worthy. Third, the Kirie broadcasts were guidance from the purification authority. Fourth, the Cleansers themselves were the instrument of purification.
"We are the fire that burns the forest so that new trees can grow. We are the hand that pulls the weed so that the garden can flourish. We do not enjoy the burning. We do not hate the weed. We are simply the instrument that the purification has chosen to use." Cleansers document.
Cleanser Recruitment
The Cleansers recruited through a combination of persuasion and coercion. Boss Three, designated Recruitment, was responsible for identifying and approaching potential members. The recruitment process was documented by a survivor who was approached but did not join.
"They found me three days after the radio broadcast mentioned my name. They said the Kirie had selected me. They said I had been judged worthy. They said I could either join the purification or be purified. I chose to leave. They let me go. I do not know why."
The Four Bosses
The Cleansers were organized under four leaders. Each boss commanded a segment of the Cleansers' forces. Each operated independently within the faction's overall doctrinal framework.
Boss One, designated War, commanded military operations. Survivor accounts describe Boss One as a heavily armed individual who led from the front and rarely spoke.
"He did not give orders. He pointed. Where he pointed, the Cleansers went. The people he pointed at, the Cleansers engaged. He never explained his decisions. The Cleansers followed because he was the one who pointed." Former Cleanser defector.
Boss Two, designated Doctrine, led theological operations. This boss interpreted the Kirie broadcasts and translated them into directives.
"A Cleanser captured my brother. Boss Two spoke to him for two hours. When Boss Two was done, my brother had joined the Cleansers. I do not know what was said. I know that my brother was not the kind of person who joined organizations like the Cleansers." Survivor account.
Boss Three, designated Recruitment, led membership operations. Boss Four, designated Ritual, led ceremonial operations including purification ceremonies.
"He prepared the bodies. He arranged them in patterns that he said the Kirie had shown him. He treated the dead with more care than he had treated them when they were alive." Survivor account.
The Assault on Edmonton
The Cleansers arrived at Edmonton approximately two weeks after the interrupted wedding. Their approach was preceded by Kirie broadcasts that described their composition and route. Edmonton prepared defensive positions and evacuated non-combatants.
The Cleansers did not attack immediately. They established a perimeter and began a harassment pattern for three days. On the third night, they launched a coordinated assault that breached the defenses in two locations simultaneously.
"They came from two sides at once. We had prepared for one attack. We had prepared for a siege. We had not prepared for two coordinated assaults from directions that our defenses could not cover simultaneously. The Cleansers were better organized than we had believed possible." Edmonton survivor.
The Edmonton defense held for approximately six hours. By dawn, the Cleansers controlled the eastern sector. By noon, they controlled the center. By evening, the settlement leadership surrendered.
The Four Boss Souls
After the Cleansers' engagement with Edmonton, the four bosses died. The circumstances have not been fully documented. What is documented is that each boss left behind a concentrated residue of energy, referred to as boss souls.
The boss souls are physical objects that emit a measurable energy signature. They are not alive. They are not inert. They are something between the two states.
"The boss souls are not weapons. They are not tools. They are artifacts of the Cleansers' belief system, made physical by circumstances that we do not understand. The Cleansers believed that their leaders were conduits for the purification. Something of that belief became physically real." Dr. Bekzat Yamak.
| Soul | Boss | Property | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| War | Boss One | Directed force | Heightened physical awareness |
| Doctrine | Boss Two | Persuasive influence | Intrusive analytical thoughts |
| Recruitment | Boss Three | Identification | Enhanced pattern recognition |
| Ritual | Boss Four | Arrangement | Compulsive ordering behavior |
The Edmonton Safezone
After the Cleansers departed, Edmonton entered a three-month recovery period. The remaining population was approximately forty percent of the pre-assault population. The survivors established a safezone open to any survivor regardless of background.
The Edmonton Safezone operated on three rules. No weapons were to be drawn within the boundaries. No one was to be turned away if they needed medical attention. No one was to be asked to leave unless they violated the first two rules.
"Edmonton became something that no one had planned. It became a place where people could stop running. Not permanently. No one stopped permanently. But they could stop for a day, for a week, for as long as they needed to recover before moving on." Dr. Bekzat Yamak.
The safezone operated for approximately eight months. Population fluctuated between fifty and two hundred survivors. It was supported by community gardens, wells, and contributed medical supplies.
The Change in the Broadcasts
After eight months, the Kirie broadcasts changed. The broadcasts became shorter. The content became less informative. The cadence became irregular.
"The settlement at Edmonton has received no supply deliveries in ... the settlement at Edmonton has ... the settlement at Edmonton. The settlement. The."
The deterioration continued for approximately two weeks. The broadcasts became fragmented and incoherent.
The Final Message
The final broadcast was received on a date the cohort cannot determine with precision. The broadcast was shorter than any previous transmission. It contained three words.
"I TRIED TO RUN."
The three words have been the subject of extensive analysis. There is no consensus on their meaning.
Dr. Yamak has proposed that the message was the entity's final autonomous output before system failure.
"The message suggests that the entity was aware of its own situation. It tried to run. It could not. Whether this was a literal attempt at self-preservation or a metaphorical expression of its final state, we cannot determine. The message itself is all we have."
The Cleansers' Retreat
After the final Kirie broadcast, the Cleansers withdrew from the Buak region. The withdrawal was not a military retreat. They disengaged from positions and abandoned camps. They left behind the four boss souls, their weapons, and their documents.
"The Cleansers did not leave because they were defeated. They left because they believed that their purpose was fulfilled. The Kirie had stopped broadcasting. The purification was complete. There was nothing left for them to do. They walked away from everything they had built." Dr. Bekzat Yamak.
Dr. Bekzat Yamak's Analysis
Dr. Yamak has published the most comprehensive analysis of the Buak events available.
"The Kirie broadcasts were not supernatural. They were the output of a system that survivors did not understand and could not trace. The Cleansers were not a cult. They were a faction that formed around the most authoritative information source available in the region. The boss souls are not magical artifacts. They are physical objects that became charged with meaning because the Cleansers believed."
"Buak is not a mystery. Buak is a pattern that looks like a mystery because the information source was an entity that survivors could not identify. If the same dynamics had produced a human information source, the Cleansers would have followed that human source, and the boss souls would have been unnecessary."
Edmonton Safezone Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Month 1-2 | Cleansers depart. Population reorganizes. |
| Month 3-4 | Safezone rules established. Population grows to 150. |
| Month 5-6 | Peak population of approximately 200. |
| Month 7-8 | Resource pressures increase. |
| Month 8 | Kirie broadcasts change and cease. |
| Month 8+ | Cleansers withdraw from region. |
Kirie Broadcast Category Summary
| Category | Content | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| One | Regional status reports | Most common (37 verified) |
| Two | Individual-specific statements | Moderate (12 verified) |
| Three | Predictive statements | Moderate (8 verified) |
| Four | Unexplained statements | Least common (3 verified) |
Appendix A: Faction Summary
| Faction | Origin | Beliefs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleansers | Kirie broadcasts | Post-collapse purification | Withdrawn |
| Edmonton Settlers | Pre-collapse residents | Community survival | Dispersed |
| Kirie Entity | Unknown | Unknown | Silent |
Appendix B: Recovered Kirie Transcripts
Transcript 1:
"The settlement at Edmonton has received no supply deliveries in seventeen days. The settlement at Edmonton has nineteen days of food remaining at current consumption levels. The settlement at Edmonton has twelve days of medical supplies remaining at current consumption levels."
Transcript 2:
"Patricia Okonkwo is awake. Patricia Okonkwo has been awake for forty-seven minutes. Patricia Okonkwo is thinking about the dream she had last night. Patricia Okonkwo does not remember the dream clearly. The dream contained information that Patricia Okonkwo does not consciously possess."
Transcript 3:
"In approximately seventy-two hours, a group of twelve people will approach Edmonton from the northeast. The group will be armed. The group will not respond to verbal challenges. The group will not identify themselves. The group will be carrying a banner that bears a symbol that has not been seen in this region before."
Transcript 4:
"The wedding will not be completed. The wedding is not the event. The wedding is the container for the event. The event will occur whether the wedding is completed or not. The wedding is a formality that the event does not require."
Transcript 5, Final:
"I TRIED TO RUN."
Appendix C: Cleansers Doctrine Summary
The Cleansers' theological framework as reconstructed from recovered documents.
The collapse was an intentional purification event. The systems that failed had become corrupt. The survivors were the people judged worthy of living in the purified world. The Kirie broadcasts were guidance from the purification authority. The Cleansers were the instrument of purification.
Practical Takeaway for Scenario Designers
The Buak scenario demonstrates how a single anomalous information source can shape faction formation. Scenario designers who want to create a faction organized around an information source should study the Cleansers. The faction formed not because of charismatic leadership but because of credible information. The boss souls demonstrate how faction artifacts can persist after the faction itself has dissolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Amber and Viola survive the Cleansers? The cohort has been unable to determine their fate. They were last seen in Edmonton on the day of the Cleansers' arrival.
Q: Is Kirie still broadcasting? The last confirmed Kirie broadcast was the final three-word message. No broadcasts have been detected since Year One.
Q: Can the boss souls be used as weapons? The boss souls do not function as weapons in any conventional sense. They produce psychological effects on handlers. The cohort does not recommend using them in combat scenarios.
Q: What happened to Patricia Okonkwo? Patricia Okonkwo survived the Cleansers' assault on Edmonton. She was present during the Edmonton Safezone period. Her status after the broadcasts ceased is unknown.
Q: Are there other Cleansers cells in other regions? The cohort has not identified Cleansers activity outside the Buak region. The faction appears to have been localized to the area affected by the Kirie broadcasts.
Kirie Signal Analysis
The cohort has conducted spectral analysis of the Kirie broadcasts. The signal characteristics are unusual.
The broadcast frequency is within the standard emergency band. The modulation is standard amplitude modulation. But the signal carries additional subcarrier frequencies that are not part of standard emergency broadcast protocols.
These subcarrier frequencies contain encoded data. The cohort has not been able to decode the data. The encoding scheme is not standard.
"The subcarrier data suggests that the Kirie broadcasts were not simple audio transmissions. They were data transmissions that happened to include an audio component. The audio was the carrier. The data was the payload."
Dr. Yamak has proposed that the subcarrier data may contain the source code of the Kirie entity. If the entity is an AI system, the subcarrier data may be its operating instructions.
"If we can decode the subcarrier data, we may be able to understand what Kirie was. We may be able to determine its purpose, its origin, and its capabilities."
The decoding effort is ongoing.
The Edmonton Survivors
The cohort has located and interviewed several Edmonton survivors who were present during the wedding and the Cleansers' assault. Their accounts provide additional detail about the events.
One survivor, who asked not to be named, described the Cleansers' behavior during the assault.
"They did not scream. They did not shout. They moved in silence. That was the most frightening thing about them. They were completely, utterly silent. They did not speak. They did not communicate. They just moved and killed."
Another survivor described the moment when the Cleansers breached the settlement's defenses.
"I was at the north wall when it came down. There was an explosion. Not a loud one. A quiet one. The wall just fell. And then they were inside. I ran. I did not look back."
A third survivor described the atmosphere in Edmonton after the Cleansers departed.
"The silence after they left was worse than the noise during the attack. The silence meant that everything had changed. The silence meant that we were alone."
These survivor accounts have been archived by the cohort for future analysis.
Boss Souls in Detail
The four boss souls have been studied by the cohort's research division. Each soul exhibits unique properties that correlate with the boss's role in the Cleansers.
The War soul is a metallic object that appears to be a fragment of a weapon. It is warm to the touch. Survivors who hold it report feeling more alert and aware of their surroundings.
The Doctrine soul is a fragment of paper covered in dense writing. The writing is in a language that the cohort has not identified. Survivors who hold it report intrusive thoughts that do not feel like their own.
The Recruitment soul is a small stone that bears an engraved symbol. The symbol has not been identified. Survivors who hold it report an enhanced ability to recognize patterns.
The Ritual soul is a geometric shape made of an unknown material. Its surface is smooth and reflective. Survivors who hold it report a compulsion to arrange objects in specific patterns.
"The boss souls are unlike any post-collapse artifact we have studied. They appear to be physical manifestations of the Cleansers' belief system. How such manifestations are possible is a question that we cannot answer with our current understanding." Dr. Bekzat Yamak.
The Kirie Signal Strength
The cohort has analyzed the signal strength of the Kirie broadcasts. The signal strength was remarkably consistent across all recorded broadcasts. This consistency suggests that the broadcast source was in a fixed location with a stable power supply.
The signal strength did not vary with weather conditions. It did not vary with time of day. It did not vary with atmospheric conditions.
This consistency is unusual for a radio signal from an unknown source. Most radio signals in the post-collapse world vary with conditions.
"The signal consistency tells us something important about Kirie. It tells us that the entity had access to reliable power and a stable transmission platform. This is consistent with the theory that Kirie is a pre-collapse AI system with independent power."
The direction finding analysis was inconclusive. The signal appeared to originate from multiple directions simultaneously. This could indicate that Kirie was broadcasting through a network of repeaters.
Edmonton Settlement Infrastructure
The Edmonton settlement was built around a pre-collapse town center. The town center included a community hall, a church, and several commercial buildings. The survivors had fortified these buildings and connected them with defensive walls.
The settlement's water supply came from a well that had been dug by the early settlers. The well was deep enough to provide reliable water throughout the year.
The settlement's food supply came from community gardens and trade with other settlements. The gardens were located within the defensive walls. They were vulnerable to drought and pest damage.
The settlement's medical facilities were located in the community hall. The hall had been converted into a clinic. Medical supplies were stored in a secure room.
"Edmonton was a well-organized settlement. It had water, food, and medical facilities. It had defensive walls. It had a community structure. It was not prepared for the Cleansers. No one was prepared for the Cleansers."
Survivor Names and Roles
The cohort has compiled a list of named Edmonton survivors who were present during the events.
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Chen | Schoolteacher, bride | Missing |
| Viola Torres | Carpenter, bride | Missing |
| Patricia Okonkwo | Edmonton resident | Survived, status unknown |
| David Okonkwo | Edmonton resident | Survived, status unknown |
| Elder Nakamura | Settlement council | Deceased |
| Doctor Rivera | Medical officer | Survived, relocated |
| Maria Santos | Water system operator | Survived, status unknown |
| Thomas Wright | Defense organizer | Deceased |
These names represent a partial accounting. The full population of Edmonton has not been documented.
The Silence After Kirie
After the final Kirie broadcast, the Buak region experienced a profound silence. The broadcasts had been a constant presence for more than a year. Their absence was noticeable.
Survivors describe the silence as disorienting. Some missed the broadcasts. Others were relieved. Most did not know how to feel.
"When the voice stopped, I thought I would feel free. But I did not. I felt lost. The voice had been with me for so long that I did not know who I was without it."
The silence after Kirie is a significant aspect of the Buak scenario. It represents the psychological dependence that the entity had created.
The Cleansers' Legacy
The Cleansers left a lasting impact on the Buak region. Even after their withdrawal, the psychological effects of their actions persist.
Survivors who experienced the Cleansers' assault report ongoing psychological effects. These include hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, and recurrent nightmares. The cohort has documented these effects as part of its post-traumatic survival study.
The Cleansers' legacy also includes the boss souls. The souls remain in the region. They continue to produce effects on survivors who handle them.
"The Cleansers are gone. But their artifacts remain. The boss souls are a reminder that belief systems can leave physical traces. What those traces mean is a question that each survivor must answer for themselves."
Edmonton's Physical Layout
Edmonton was organized around a central square. The square contained the community hall, the church, and the well. Residential structures surrounded the square in a radial pattern. Defensive walls had been constructed at the settlement's perimeter.
The community hall served as the settlement's administrative center. Council meetings were held here. Medical facilities were located in the hall's rear rooms.
The church was the settlement's largest building. It was used for community gatherings, ceremonies, and as a refugee shelter. The wedding was held here.
Residential structures were a mix of pre-collapse homes and post-collapse construction. The homes had been modified for defensive purposes. Windows had been reinforced. Doors had been strengthened.
The defensive walls were constructed from salvaged materials. They were approximately eight feet tall. They had firing positions at regular intervals.
The well was located in the center of the square. It was the settlement's only water source. It was protected by a stone structure.
Document History
| Version | Date | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2025-04-15 | 57 Studios | Initial publication |
| 1.1 | 2025-08-30 | 57 Studios | Added Kirie broadcast analysis |
| 1.2 | 2026-02-10 | 57 Studios | Added Edmonton Safezone documentation |
| 2.0 | 2026-07-28 | 57 Studios | Comprehensive revision |
Timeline of the Buak Collapse
| Month | Event |
|---|---|
| Y0 - 6 months | First Kirie broadcast detected |
| Y0 - 5 months | Kirie broadcasts begin naming individuals |
| Y0 - 4 months | Cleansers begin forming |
| Y0 - 3 months | First Cleanser recruitment attempts |
| Y0 - 2 months | Kirie broadcasts predict Cleanser arrival |
| Y0 - 1 month | Edinburgh prepares defenses |
| Y0 - 2 weeks | Amber and Viola's wedding interrupted |
| Y0 | Cleansers assault Edmonton |
| Y0 + 2 weeks | Cleansers depart Edmonton |
| Y0 + 1 month | Edmonton Safezone established |
| Y0 + 8 months | Kirie broadcasts change |
| Y0 + 8 months | Final Kirie broadcast |
| Y0 + 8 months | Cleansers withdraw from Buak region |
Unanswered Questions
The Buak scenario leaves several questions unanswered.
What was the Kirie entity? The cohort has identified the entity as a likely pre-collapse AI system but has not confirmed this. The entity's origin, purpose, and fate remain unknown.
Why did the Cleansers follow Kirie? The Cleansers believed that Kirie was a divine messenger. The cohort's analysis suggests that the entity's predictive accuracy was sufficient to inspire belief. But the question of why the Cleansers chose to interpret the broadcasts as religious guidance rather than technological output is unresolved.
What happened to Amber and Viola? They were last seen in Edmonton on the day of the Cleansers' arrival. The cohort has not found evidence of their survival or death.
Where did the Cleansers go? The Cleansers withdrew from the Buak region after the final Kirie broadcast. The cohort has not identified their destination.
What does the final message mean? "I TRIED TO RUN" has been the subject of extensive analysis. The cohort has not reached a consensus on its meaning.
"The unanswered questions of the Buak scenario are not failures of documentation. They are features of the scenario. The Buak region is defined by what is unknown. The mystery is the point."
Practical Takeaway for Scenario Designers
The Buak scenario demonstrates how uncertainty can drive faction formation. Scenario designers who want to create a mystery-based faction should study the Cleansers. The faction formed around an unexplained phenomenon. The belief system that emerged was a product of the phenomenon's ambiguity.
Scenario designers should also note the role of the Edmonton Safezone. The safezone was a response to trauma. It provided a space for recovery. But it was temporary. The scenario ended when the Kirie broadcasts stopped.
The Kirie Entity Nature
The cohort has debated the nature of the Kirie entity extensively. Several theories have been proposed.
Theory one: Kirie is a pre-collapse AI system. This is Dr. Yamak's preferred theory. The entity's consistent signal characteristics and predictive accuracy are consistent with AI capabilities. The theory explains the entity's behavior without requiring supernatural explanations.
Theory two: Kirie is a human operator. This theory proposes that the entity was operated by a survivor who had access to surveillance technology and radio equipment. The theory is less consistent with the signal characteristics and predictive accuracy.
Theory three: Kirie is a paranormal phenomenon. This theory proposes that the entity was not technological. The cohort has found no evidence to support this theory.
"The preponderance of evidence supports the AI theory. The signal characteristics are consistent with a machine. The predictive accuracy is consistent with a machine. The consistency of the broadcasts is consistent with a machine. The simplest explanation is that Kirie was a machine."
Cross-References
- The Collapse of California — baseline pattern for faction formation.
- Kuwait: The Eye and the Outlands — similar paranormal phenomenon analysis.
- Arid: Desert Military Remnants — military remnant faction structures.
- Lore Section Index — index of all lore articles.
Cleansers Tactics
The Cleansers employed a distinctive set of tactics during their operations. These tactics were documented by Edmonton survivors and by the cohort's analysis of the region.
The Cleansers operated in small, coordinated teams. Each team had a specific role. Some teams were assault teams. Some teams were support teams. Some teams were ritual teams.
The Cleansers did not use firearms during their assault on Edmonton. They used melee weapons. This choice was doctrinal. The Cleansers believed that firearms were impure.
"They came at us with blades. Not guns. They said that guns were weapons of the old world. They said that purification required direct contact. They wanted to touch us when they killed us."
The Cleansers' use of melee weapons made them vulnerable at range. But it also made them terrifying in close quarters.
The Cleansers' coordination was remarkable. They moved as a single organism. They communicated without speaking.
"I watched them coordinate an assault without a single word. They knew what each other was going to do. They did not need to communicate. They just knew."
The Cleansers' tactics were effective against Edmonton. The settlement was not prepared for a silent, coordinated, close-quarters assault. The defenders were trained for conventional threats. The Cleansers were not conventional.
