1. Radio Check-In. — "Keep it together! This is no time for panic."
[ The appearance of the worm throws the entire Outsider group into disarray. Ratio is doing his best not to be influenced by the worm's power, whatever it is (and he can hear the voices, sometimes see people—Professor Rond, he thinks he spots in the distance, close to the sandstorm, but it is foolish to think the man, so advanced in his years he can't even speak coherently, let alone move without aid, would be on this planet)
(...he hasn't visited Professor Rond in a long time, has he? He must, before the man passes.)
While you're dealing with whatever chaos has erupted on your camper van, you may suddenly receive an unsolicited call from a Dr. Ratio. ]
This is Dr. Ratio. What is the status of your van and its passengers?
2. Blinded. — "...I may be in need of assistance."
[ The headache that occurred immediately after witnessing the sand worm hasn't gone away. In fact, it's gotten worse over time, though he's done his best to ignore its effects and try to help. But now, back in Las Vegas, they are safe. ...safer.
And it's then, as he steps out of the camper van, that a sharp pain erupts behind his eyes, causing him to gasp, and suddenly—darkness.
He's been blinded.
Ratio will be found nearby the camper vans, trying his best to deal with the sudden onset of blindness. He can't even call on anyone for help through the ocular implant... help a poor guy? ]
3. Once More, Dreaming. — "...I have little to hide."
[ Congrats! You've won the dream memory share roulette and have fallen into one of Ratio's dreams, which are all fairly lighthearted compared to some of the others you could have been thrown in! Below is a list of one of the dreams you might find yourself in: ]
a. Interviewing the Great Genius Dr. Ratio
[ You find yourself deposited in a sleek, sterile looking environment. To your side, a large window opens into the vast expanse of space. There are other spacecrafts in view: ships passing to and fro, and a much, much larger ship a little further aways, receiving most of the commotion. A planet sits below, reddish in hue and covered in swirling, violent storm clouds.
Behind you, researchers pass by, discussing the latest in their fields, complaining about colleagues, or rushing to places they need to be.
You find yourself interrupted by the clearing of a throat, and find the source to be a man with an alabaster head, dressed down in a plain sweater, slacks and a lab coat, arms crossed and looking displeased. ]
Are you here to waste my time? Gawk at the Xianzhou ship after you're done with the interview.
b. Exams, Yet Again
[ You find yourself deposited... in a spacious lecture room. It is full to the brim with students of all ages and species, but it is silent save for the slight movements of each student as they concentrate on the exams before them, displayed on tablet screen in front of them.
You, too, have one such tablet screen in front of you, open to the first section of the exam. A timer ticks ominously in the top right corner of the screen. You look at the questions.
It's gibberish. Something about Imaginary Forces and Fundamental Construction Theory and Type Manifestation. A closer look at the course code written at the top of the exam page indicates that this is an advanced graduate level course you've found yourself dropped into.
A man with an alabaster head is standing at the podium at the front of the room—clearly, the proctor.
Welp. Good luck, poor soul. ]
c. Ruan Mei's Poor Creations
[ You find yourself depositied in a run down, dimly lit laboratory. Looking out the windows tells you that you're on some sort of space station, as the outside is an inky black with stars glittering in the distance. A beautiful blue planet hovers just below the station.
Walking around and investigating doesn't tell you much about what might have happened down here, but suddenly you hear a ghastly wail. It is not the wail of some monster out to get you, but one of sorrow and grief. Should you follow the noise to its source, you will be met with these strange creatures.
'Ruan Mei, Ruan Mei! Why doesn't she love us?' the creatures cry, and you hear an aggravated sigh from the side. The source is a man with an alabaster head, shaking said head in exasperation. ]
Such irritating, noisy creatures...
d. Aventurine's Sentencing
[ You find yourself deposited in some sort of grand, lavish meeting room. You're not alone. Beside you is Dr. Ratio, standing by a bookcase, observing the proceedings in front of him. There are two men at the center of the room: one may be familiar, as it is Aventurine, another Outsider on base, while the other is not. A man with wings protruding from behind his ears, and a spiked halo hovering above his head.
The following exchange proceeds, an interrogation of Aventurine of Stratagems, an IPC ambassador, by Sunday, Head of the Oak Family, where Aventurine's plans to trick Sunday are ruthlessly revealed—a betrayal by Dr. Ratio, who was supposed to be Aventurine's partner in this endeavor—and the casting of some sort of spell upon Aventurine, sentencing him to death in seventeen system hours.
Nothing you do seems to matter as none of the people in the room seem to react to your presence. You can't do anything but watch it play out, until Aventurine leaves the room, and then Sunday, having graciously allowed Ratio to peruse all the knowledge stored in the books of this room. His reward for the sell-out, it seems.
There is a moment of silence as Ratio doesn't move, lips pressed together in a frown and staring at the door, searching for something. Eventually, his eyes turn to you—it seems he was not part of the memory after all. ]
You may ask questions, but I am at liberty to answer as I please.
e. The Cost of the Pursuit of Knowledge
[ You find yourself deposited in a cozy little office. A quick examination of the various papers, books and supplies within will make it obvious that this is a university professor's office, and indeed, Ratio is sitting at the desk, staring down at a piece of paper in front of him with what might be the most dispirited look on his face you've ever seen. It doesn't suit him—a man who is always certain that there is a solution, a way forward, and never stops pushing for progress, for the advancement of humanity.
He drags a hand over his face, and suddenly laughs—it's self-deprecating, full of loathing, shame and guilt. If you look at the paper itself, you'll find, neatly typed, a letter from the Interastral Peace Corporation thanking him for his work on an anti-planetary weapon that has successfully been test fired, resulting in a hefty chunk of an assaulting Antimatter Legion force being decimated, but not without some casualties, including one planet with a civilization of Class 0, and five other planets of lower classifications. The letter invites him to a congratulatory party, asking him to prepare a speech and also informing him that further collaboration opportunities are in the works, along with an upgrade to his security clearance being granted as he has now firmly established himself as a reliable partner of the IPC. ]
Was it worth it, Veritas Ratio? All this, because you could? Just for Nous' gaze?
[ His eyes seem to be looking at you, but not quite. This dream seems a little different—you'll be able to reply, but he won't acknowledge you as an intruder. Only as some figment of his own thoughts that he is talking to. ]
4. Self-Medication. — "This is not the doctor's prescription."
[ Normally, he would not recommend this course of action to deal with a headache, but even painkillers have proven to be ineffective against a migraine of this magnitude. The pain is far beyond anything he's had to deal with before; he can't even think. He's lucid enough to wait for the painkillers to clear out of his system, but the next solution he decides is worth trying is alcohol.
It's a temporary solution, and one he doesn't intend on repeating should he come upon this pain again. He's read more than enough articles and research regarding the consequences of long term alcohol consumption, not to mention his personal distaste for substances that muddle his mind. But the pain is already muddling his mind, and he would rather deal with the alcohol's effects than the pain.
So you'll find Ratio at the hotel bar, no buddy in sight, having consumed far more alcohol than he would normally allow himself, and just... cushioning his head with his arms against the table, resting with eyes closed now that the pain has been dulled to something far more manageable. ]
5. Wildcard. [ Always down for some wildcarding! Feel free to hit me up at tenkomi or on the unofficial discord to plan something! ]
Dr. Ratio | Honkai: Star Rail | Redemption
1. Radio Check-In.
— "Keep it together! This is no time for panic."
2. Blinded.
— "...I may be in need of assistance."
3. Once More, Dreaming.
— "...I have little to hide."
4. Self-Medication.
— "This is not the doctor's prescription."
5. Wildcard.
[ Always down for some wildcarding! Feel free to hit me up at