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Transcription[]
Conversation with A3
A9: Who are you?
A3: I AM TELAL
A9: What are you doing here?
A3: UDUG HUL
A9: What does "Udug Hul" mean?
A3: (Unintelligible) ...
DEMON
A9: What does it look like?
A3: (Unintelligible)
A9: Is Telal an Udug Hul?
A3: NO
A9: What is Telal?
A3: (Unintelligible)
A9: What happened to Athetos?
A3: I AM ATHETOS
A9: But you just said you are "Telal"?
A3: (No response)
A9: How can you be Athetos if you are Telal?
A3: I AM TELAL
A9: Who do you think I am?
A3: ATHETOS
A9: Why did you attack me?
A3: (No response)
A9: Do you remember attacking me?
A3: TELAL ATTACK ... DEMON
About the Note[]
This is a purple note, and written in English by (an) Athetos.
Two clones of Athetos, A3 and A9, have an interaction. A3 identifies itself as Telal, the second Variant that Trace encounters and the game's second boss. A9's personal identity as an Athetos clone is not mentioned, but it behaves like a non-genetically modified clone. A9 tries to "talk it out" with Telal, similar to what Trace does during the game's events. Despite its decision to attack A9 prior to the conversation, Telal seems to be acting in a calm manner.
"UDUG HUL" is the title of a Sumerian canon about exorcising evil spirits. Perhaps Telal uses this phrase to communicate that its goal is to exorcise the demons that it has seen around itself.
The final phrase "TELAL ATTACK ... DEMON" is reflective of the Vision encounter, during which Trace sees himself as a monster. Racked with guilt, he uncontrollably attacks his human self. This heavily implies that the Variants, who frequently mention "demons", may perceive a role reversal of sorts— that they themselves are still normal and others are monsters.
This is Note 16.
Location[]
The Note titled "Transcription" can be found on the far left side of Absu, at the bottom of the furthest-left vertical shaft in an area only accessible with the Remote Drone. The Remote drone must drill and enter a secret path beside a skeleton.