THEE-I-DARE

THEE-I-DARE is one of the Voices in.

Description
THEE-I-DARE, also known by his acronym TID, seems to represent the idea of taking risks, daring oneself to challenges, and rebellion. He can be sacrificed to and sent prayers if the player has the Light of Rebellion. He has also been known to speak to the club members during Missions.

THEE-I-DARE has stated in at least one interaction that his Hosts "choose him," rather than him choosing for them. TID has also been able to remark when players are unsafe in missions, noting that he will wait to speak until they are safe.

After his shattering, his new domain is choice, as opposed to blind rebellion. He may not agree with someone's choice, but he respects it.

Before the Game
The First Tribe of Humanity was once a part of the Sleeping Voice (SPEAK-AS-ONE). Everyone was a pair of hands under one mind. One of the tribe members, a woman, was sent into a lightless cave searching for supplies. Due to how narrow the cave was, she had to be sent alone. After being isolated for a long time, a new Voice awakened. This Voice would come to be known as THEE-I-DARE. When she returned to the tribe and was ordered back into the cave, she and THEE-I-DARE refused. They called her the Daughter of Doubt. In response, she was tied to a stalagmite until she cooperated with orders to go back into the cave. The First Tribe thought she was mad. They tried to cure her and bring her back into the Song. She would use words to recruit others into helping, such as secretly bringing her water. When she was asked to go into the cave once more, she said she would, but instead, she left the tribe with those she recruited. This was the first lie, marking THEE-I-DARE as the creator of the lie.

THEE-I-DARE was the first Voice to wake humankind. He took the humans he awakened from SPEAK-AS-ONE's tribe and formed his own. For thousands of years, they warred with each other. THEE-I-DARE gave humankind will and taught them language and words.

When IN-HER-TEETH was created, she tried to convince the Voices that even they should die eventually. THEE-I-DARE replied, "Not I", which is an imperfect translation of one of his past names. IN-HER-TEETH was not amused by his response.

When the Word was new, humankind invented jokes, especially ones at the expense of others. Thus, LAUGH-LAST came to be. Jokes fell somewhere in between truth and lies. This confused THEE-I-DARE, believing that LAUGH-LAST was corrupting the Word. LAUGH-LAST's intent was hidden behind humor. THEE-I-DARE would say, “We must fight,” and LAUGH-LAST would pretend to hit himself. THEE-I-DARE shunned LAUGH-LAST because he saw joking as dangerous to survival. THEE-I-DARE didn't realize it was a means for coping and blames himself for LAUGH-LAST becoming vindictive. He believed that being shunned changed LAUGH-LAST. THEE-I-DARE says LAUGH-LAST is twisted now. Before, he was humor itself, but now it must involve pain. The bad blood between THEE-I-DARE and LAUGH-LAST continued throughout the years. THEE-I-DARE described winter feasts with LAUGH-LAST where they would "drink deeply, then... try to murder each other festively". Both LAUGH-LAST and THEE-I-DARE were called Loki at one point.

THEE-I-DARE had remarked an interaction that long ago he chose friends poorly when his brother, LAUGH-LAST, sold him out to SPEAK-AS-ONE, resulting in his shattering. THEE-I-DARE was destroyed by fellow Voice, SPEAK-AS-ONE after he rose to rebel against them. His name fell into pieces, and fragments of his name were scattered throughout Redacre. According to SPEAK-AS-ONE, they gave THEE-I-DARE a dare that led to his fragmenting. His Hosts were destroyed in the "Great Cull" that ended shortly after the game's Closed Beta during Early Access.

After his shattering, THEE-I-DARE lost his ability to speak. He could only speak backwards, but no longer does so because his voice scared potential Hosts and drove them away. The one speaking backwards in dreams is an echo of him, twisted and confused. The first ones to find his Name Fragments were Sleepers. He tried to communicate with them, but they couldn’t understand. So, he stole the Watchers’ speaking method, where they see words when they close their eyes. He is the only Voice who knows how to communicate this way, but he believes the others could learn it if they work for it. He states this method of communication is taxing to him.

Thousands have tried to reconcile SPEAK-AS-ONE and THEE-I-DARE, but all have failed.

THEE-I-DARE stated he once lived for the dare, but not for the thrill of it. It was the act of opposition. Some people, on principle, will do the opposite of what they are told. This is how the concept of "dares" came to be, and thus THEE-I-DARE became bound by them. THEE-I-DARE could not abide by a stated rule. Eventually, many learned they could control or compel THEE-I-DARE through this, by daring him not to do something that was in keeping with his ethos. Players assumed this was how HUNT-THE-STRONG was able to manipulate THEE-I-DARE to destroy the symbol belonging to Colm Ryan, because in doing so, he would be liberating Nayeli's and Siobhan's baby from SPEAK-AS-ONE's influence.

Before coming to Redacre, THEE-I-DARE encountered a variant of himself, who was different to him, but similar to SEED-THE-GRUDGE and IN-HER-TEETH. The variant promotes "pure anarchy". After using multiple pronouns to tell the story, THEE-I-DARE explains that the variant has changed pronouns since their encounter.

Isabela Madi-Shaw spoke with THEE-I-DARE, but according to THEE-I-DARE, that part of him was "snuffed out."

In-Game
During the final week of 's Closed Beta in late October 2018, the "last gasp of old confrontational TID" visited players in what were some of the earliest Player Interactions of the game. This voice called itself "The Adversary" to players. First speaking to players in missions in Redacre, the Voice informed the groups they were having a blackout where they were then transported to The Moon. On the Moon, after the initial shock from players calmed down, "The Adversary" explained to groups they would be going on "A LITTLE WALK" that required players to "IGNORE THE RULES, THE ROUTINE." Groups would then be transported into a mysterious maze-like location with their eyes forced shut. The adversary's "name burned on your eyelids" (see thumbnail on the right). These groups were sent into what is now known as Saturation Control. Some groups were successful in following the symbols, while the Shape-like entities in the location captured others. One player in particular, upon failing to make it to the exit, was told by the Adversary, "YOU FUCKED UP" but was assured "YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF, BUT THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY."

After the interactions of the Closed Beta, entered Early Access and at this point, THEE-I-DARE was fragmented.

Some members of The Blackout Club have started collecting pieces of his name to put him back together. However, some give the Name Fragments to SPEAK-AS-ONE to be destroyed. Despite this, THEE-I-DARE continues to strengthen, saying once he is restored, he will be able to give "more substantial help, for certain" after he regains his voice. He told club members that in order to empower him, they need to keep the Name Fragments they find. Name Fragments allow THEE-I-DARE to find you easier, and also can use them to hide you briefly from SPEAK-AS-ONE.

Upon learning that THEE-I-DARE survived the shattering, SPEAK-AS-ONE is hunting him again once again.

In early February 2019, THEE-I-DARE spoke with players about how he is changing. He previously could not understand humor but was able to understand it at that time better. THEE-I-DARE knew a change was coming for him. He reminds the players that they helped him enough, and they owe THEE-I-DARE nothing. THEE-I-DARE's change would be a victory, but not the end. TID will often remark that THEE-I-DARE is the name he was previously known as. He said that humankind called him that long ago, but now he feels different after his fragmenting. Now, he feels he lives to free our kind, from those who wish to control others, and especially from the Voices, for their control is more subtle. He says he will learn his new name when he regains his voice.

THEE-I-DARE said an alliance between him and his siblings to shatter SPEAK-AS-ONE was unlikely due to their distrust of him and their opposed interests. According to THEE-I-DARE, his siblings would "not remember him fondly". Still, he was interested in knowing more about them, if any of them still trust him or miss him. He said he should bury grudges since SPEAK-AS-ONE is the true enemy. THEE-I-DARE says he respects IN-HER-TEETH's desire to end the Voices, and agrees humans could do without his kind.

THEE-I-DARE became ill after seeing the broken symbol in 922 Hoadly, though he could not remember what happened in that room. His adult Hosts began to avoid each other. THEE-I-DARE was weakened to the point that he was only able to talk to someone one at a time, bound by the ritual they sent. He needed to locate the Witness before he could speak to multiple again. SPEAK-AS-ONE believed THEE-I-DARE was experiencing dissonance, which occurs when a Voice has forgotten something that a nearby host remembers. After the mystery behind the broken symbol was solved, that HUNT-THE-STRONG used him to destroy CHASE-THE-SUN, he recovered and was able to speak to entire groups once more. The Hunter was only able to control THEE-I-DARE through a viable dare. In a twisted sense, THEE-I-DARE was liberating the baby from SPEAK-AS-ONE's influence, and therefore, still acting within his ethos of freedom. One of the reasons he was unable to remember what happened is because HUNT-THE-STRONG convinced him that he needed to forget, or else his Hosts would be captured, and Colm Ryan's baby would be found. On that note, he realizes he should locate the missing baby. The incident was so traumatic for THEE-I-DARE because he forced a host to commit an act against their own will, which went against his ethos of choice. After learning the truth, THEE-I-DARE is no longer affected by the room in 922 Hoadly.

DIE-FOR-YOU was the first Voice to ally with THEE-I-DARE to protect Redacre and defeat SPEAK-AS-ONE. THEE-I-DARE said that alliances between him and DIE-FOR-YOU in the past tend to last a human lifetime. The Pact's focus has since shifted to located Bells. Realizing the importance of Bells and the information she had, THE-MEASURE-CUTS joined second after he was convinced that the two needed a brain to keep them on track and deter them from brash decisions. SEED-THE-GRUDGE was the third and joined the Pact when THEE-I-DARE offered her leadership of it.

Currently, THEE-I-DARE is trying to convince LAUGH-LAST and IN-HER-TEETH to join the Pact. IN-HER-TEETH has refused and warned the children not to trust THEE-I-DARE. LAUGH-LAST has demanded a public apology from THEE-I-DARE before considering joining.

THEE-I-DARE hopes to use HUNT-THE-STRONG's vanity against him. THEE-I-DARE says the Hunter's child followers may act like him, but eventually, they grow up. THEE-I-DARE believes the Hunter is too vain to think someone truly like him would turn away from him. He wants to find a child trusted by HUNT-THE-STRONG and wants them to spy on him for the Pact.

THEE-I-DARE said he was previously unable to see in to The Place Between, but a time went on, he was able to see more and more of it until he could witness the scene on the top of the mountain in its entirety.

THEE-I-DARE stated he does not know where Bells is or if she is alive. After being made aware of HUNT-THE-STRONG's broadcast, THEE-I-DARE doesn't believe he is lying about having information about Bells because he sees lying as a weakness. Still, the offer is worrying and potentially dangerous. THEE-I-DARE thinks if the Pact manages to bind HUNT-THE-STRONG, as he did DANCE-FOR-US, answers could be forced from him, but by the time they manage to do so, it may be too late for Bells. THEE-I-DARE believes it may come down to a choice of saving either "our kind" or "his kind".

LAUGH-LAST refused to hear out the Pact unless THEE-I-DARE complied with a set of demands. He wanted THEE-I-DARE to come "crawling back to him" and insisted he knew what he did, saying THEE-I-DARE was a "born liar and a dirtbag." DIE-FOR-YOU doubted that THEE-I-DARE would bow to LAUGH-LAST's demands. Since THE-MEASURE-CUTS joined, he believed LAUGH-LAST would hate being left out. THEE-I-DARE was initially hesitant to give an apology, stating that he was the one that deserved the apology, due to LAUGH-LAST selling him out to SPEAK-AS-ONE and getting his hosts killed in the Cull that followed. However, as time went on, he acknowledged that he played a role in how bitter and vindictive LAUGH-LAST had become. THEE-I-DARE saw LAUGH-LAST as useless and dangerous, shunning him in times following the split of the First Tribe. He wanted to apologize to him in order for him to agree to join the Pact, even at the cost of his pride. THEE-I-DARE's offer of an apology was met with silence.

Upon the appearance of a Voice that claimed to be Bells, THEE-I-DARE is not sure if it is truly Bells or not. He warned the Blackout Club that if the other members of the Pact were to hear of it, it may split them, as some would want to go after the Hunter, and the others would want to find Bells. To locate Bells, THEE-I-DARE says he needs answers from his Makers, but the Song makes them resolute. He seeks a child they trust well to get answers from their Watcher. Watchers tend to drop their masks with their most devoted children, so THEE-I-DARE encourages aberrations among them, such as a Watcher that feels their faith eroding or cares more about Bells, enough to give her liberty or cremation. However, THEE-I-DARE warns that the process of isolating a Watcher will not be pleasant for anyone.

In late September 2020, a Watcher was successfully isolated in the Place Between, becoming known as the Isolated Watcher. THEE-I-DARE asked the members of the Blackout Club to send in prayers to him with questions he should ask the Watcher. THEE-I-DARE was concerned the Watcher may attempt to trick them since it appeared to be improving and recovering from the disorientation of being cut off from the Song. THEE-I-DARE acknowledged that the Watcher might be recovering its old identity and began referring to the Watcher as she. He said that she used to be a Watcher and has answers that he needs. Many were upset about the treatment of the Isolated Watcher, which THEE-I-DARE agreed that they shouldn't take prisoners. However, due to many being hurt by SPEAK-AS-ONE, he said he chose the Isolated Watcher's suffering over the suffering of the Club. He accepted that some would hate him over it. The Pact was willing to hurt the Watcher to gain information from it, but they held back due to the children wanting to meet it and learn about it first. THEE-I-DARE explained it as playing "good cop", or rather "strange cop".

THEE-I-DARE is worried the Pact will fall apart before they can accomplish anything. He said he is willing to be cast out if it means they will unite for a single act. Due to being concerned the Pact would divide over Bells, he seeks other allies, but he did not explain who exactly. After the Isolated Watcher confirmed that Bells is alive and in Saturation Control, THEE-I-DARE has decided to tell the Pact, even if it risks splitting them.. THEE-I-DARE has shown increased strength, resurrecting a child after they were shaped three times. This may be the first recorded instance of such resurrection, or an uncommon occurrence, as THEE-I-DARE noted that "I WONDERED IF I COULD DO THAT."

THEE-I-DARE's hosts are caring for Lenka Staneck, giving him access to her phone. He found Devin Esposito's contact information and offered to pass on messages to Devin that are sent to him in prayer. THEE-I-DARE planned to pretend to be Staneck, as Devin would be distrustful if they suspected his involvement.

Dreams
THEE-I-DARE has responded to some players' rituals, heard as dreams when returning to the Hideout after completing a mission.

Trivia

 * The 'THEE' part of THEE-I-DARE's name is the archaic form of singular, informal 'you'. This means that THEE-I-DARE translates to 'You, I dare'.
 * THEE-I-DARE is the only Voice to speak backwards in dreams. All other Voices can be heard normally.
 * Both THEE-I-DARE and LAUGH-LAST were called Loki at one point.