Always Watching, Always Listening

VII Stories About The Past (A Tough Decision)

When the server was gathered at spawn, they noticed that the podium had been expanded to fit five people on it.
When Pearl and Jimmy were called onto the stage, they were unnerved.
Then, they heard the topic of the meeting, whispered into their ears by Grian.
The Watchers.

The memories from their Evo days came flooding back to them, making them shudder.

"I had hoped that I wouldn't have to call a meeting like this," Void told the crowd sorrowfully. "Sadly, whoever pulls the strings on these things, be it Aeor and Exor, The Goddess of Death and DreamXD, Noxite and his NoxCrew, someone else or any combination of the above, they have decided that our server must endure hardships."

The Copper King, Pixlriffs, had to commend Void for how she addressed the server. She clearly took on a role of communicating with the group, but she didn't tell them what to do unless they came up with ideas to put into practice or they needed to be organised.
The way she did it was subtle, yet evident - especially in her prior speech. She'd seemed awkward until there was a direction to go in.
Now, though, her bard-like word choices told Pix how concerned she was. He was normally a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, but, much like with his server-mates' deaths back home and the Vigil - something he was planning on continuing here with Phil and Techno's assistance (mainly Phil, though), he felt the importance of all of this weigh upon his shoulders like netherite armour.

Void continued, "A group of ill-intended void-walkers known as the Watchers have come to this server. What this means for us? We have to be prepared. I'm not sure about these four," here she gestured to Xisuma, Grian, Pearl and Jimmy, "But I've definitely annoyed the Watchers."
"I'm a void-walker who left the End, like you. They have a thing against us," Xisuma helpfully supplied.
Grian looked uncomfortable and the other two who hadn't spoken snuck him a glance.
'Interesting,' Pix thought.

"Yeah, so we're all going to have to prepare. The Watchers are powerful, so are their sub-sect, the Listeners. However, Listeners are often against the Watchers. But don't rely on this.
If you discover that those among us right now are Watchers or Listeners, ask about who they are as a person before you pass judgement or tell anyone. When you're certain that they are a good person, treat it like they're in the closet and don't tell everyone.
Now, does anyone else want to talk about an experience with the Watchers?"

"Let me tell you a story," Grian said, stepping forward.

.

There was once a server with nine members by the names of Grian, MiniMuka (Mini for short), Bigbst4tz (or, rather Big B), InTheLittlewood - a man called Martyn, Tomohawk, NettyPlays (Martyn's partner, Netty), Soldarity - you know him as Jimmy (or sometimes Timmy), Salemslady - Salem, and System Zee.
This server was set to go from the earliest multiplayer possible to as close to the present day of the time as possible. It was called the Evolutions server, or Evo for short.

One day, by Tom's base, a large, bedrock symbol appeared on the wall.
The symbol itself looked like a broken portal.
Breaking some blocks of gravel in the centre of the rockface below the shape revealed a room with another of the symbols - this time in cobblestone - and three signs in all caps saying 'WE', 'ARE' and 'WATCHING'.

The Evolutionists who found the symbol, Mini, Grian and System Zee, were baffled and spooked.
Not long after, a portal appeared in the centre of the bedrock frame.
Going through led to the next update.

A month or so passed, Halloween coming and going before the Watchers stirred the pot again.
This time, clues were left to reach the X, Y and Z coordinates of the next portal.
When these were reached, the Evolutionists travelled once again, gaining a new member called Taurtis who was summoned by Grian.