SIGNAL
| SIGNAL | |
|---|---|
| TYPE | NPC / Legendary Runner |
| ALIAS | Burento / The Watcher |
| FACTION | Independent |
| LOCATION | System-wide (encrypted transmissions) |
| ROLE | Mysterious Guide |
| STATUS | style="padding: 4px 12px; color:
|
| "I asked Bartholomew once what the right choice was. He said there isn't one. There's only the one you can live with." | |
| A legendary old-net operator who appears via encrypted one-way transmissions at critical moments. The only person who knew Bartholomew personally. | |
SIGNAL (also known as Burento or The Watcher) is a mysterious figure in Terminal Descent — a legendary old-net operator who communicates with ZERO exclusively through encrypted one-way transmissions. SIGNAL has no fixed location, no avatar, and no way to be traced or contacted. Messages arrive at critical moments, always precisely when needed.
Nature
SIGNAL's transmissions carry a cryptographic signature that cannot be forged or impersonated — distinguishing them from Mirror's deceptions. This signature predates the Consortium's encryption standards, suggesting SIGNAL has been operating since the Lattice's earliest days.
Among the old-net community, SIGNAL is a legend. FENCE, CONDUIT, ORACLE, and even the Ghosts speak of SIGNAL with respect. SIGNAL is the only person confirmed to have known Bartholomew personally.
Key Appearances
Act I — First Lethal Threat
When ZERO faces their first truly dangerous situation, SIGNAL's transmission arrives with a hidden exit route — saving the player's life without explanation.
Act II — Corporate Branching Point
At the moment ZERO must choose which Consortium fortress to infiltrate first, SIGNAL provides guidance about the costs of each path — not telling ZERO what to choose, but ensuring they understand what each choice means.
Act III — Hive Threshold
During the Warden encounter at Hive Threshold (Node 17), SIGNAL opens a 1-turn escape window if the player is trapped — a brief intervention that demonstrates SIGNAL's ability to operate within the Hive's own infrastructure.
Endgame — Final Farewell
Before ZERO enters The Core, SIGNAL sends their longest transmission — multiple lines instead of the usual terse single-line messages. This message discusses Bartholomew, the nature of choice, and what it means to face a decision with no right answer.
Connection to Bartholomew
SIGNAL is the only character who knew Bartholomew — the Lattice's original architect — personally. Through SIGNAL's transmissions and final farewell, the player learns about Bartholomew as a person rather than a myth: his doubts, his philosophy, and his final message hidden in the kill-switch.