THEE-I-DARE

THEE-I-DARE

Information

Status

Dead

Pronouns

He/Him

Known As

The Adversary (SAO)
The Fossil (HTS)

Followers

Isabela Madi-Shaw, Ailisa, Cody, Dane, Elkins, Graham, Joel, Paul, Swanson, Utisz, Zachary

 

Voice Sample

(speaking backwards)

Voice Actor

Liam O'Brien

THEE-I-DARE was one of the Voices in The Blackout Club (game).

Description

THEE-I-DARE, also known by the acronym TID, seemed to represent the idea of taking risks, daring oneself to challenges, and rebellion. He could be sacrificed to and sent prayers if the player had the Light of Rebellion. He was known to speak to the club members during Enhanced Horror experiences in Missions and has the most recorded Player Interactions. During the Closed Beta, THEE-I-DARE spoke aloud, voiced live by Liam O’Brien. Following the Closed Beta, THEE-I-DARE communicated through messages behind closed eyes. Players would see an outline of an eye appear in the middle of their screen, which would close a few times before fading away, and was accompanied by an audio prompt instructing the player to close their eyes. Upon closing their eyes, players would see a message in red text. Similar to SPEAK-AS-ONE, THEE-I-DARE always used all caps but could be distinguished by his use of first-person singular pronouns (ie. “I” “me” and “my”) and his willingness to name himself while SPEAK-AS-ONE avoided saying his name. THEE-I-DARE has also been able to remark when players are unsafe in missions, noting that he will wait to speak until they are safe.

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. THEE-I-DARE saw himself as inspiring humankind to greatness they would avoid without a Voice like him in their mind. Though he referred to himself as “Devil. Adversary. THEE-I-DARE”, “devil” was never part of his name. THEE-I-DARE was always a bad daughter, or son, which is defined as evil in some cultures.

After The Blackout Club (game)'s Closed Beta, THEE-I-DARE was shattered; he explained that his old names, “devil, adversary, THEE-I-DARE,” were no longer accurate, but he still went by THEE-I-DARE as to not confuse the children, many of whom already know his old name. The character interacting with players throughout the game was not a true variant of the voice THEE-I-DARE, but a fragmented, nameless echo of his former self, who would gain a new name when restored.

After his shattering, his new domain was choice, as opposed to blind rebellion. THEE-I-DARE's new name would represent how he has changed, and he described himself as “choice, exalted”. He may not have agreed with someone's choice, but he respected it. THEE-I-DARE aimed to help humankind choose with conviction, even when conflicted. In order to safeguard choice, he must not judge. THEE-I-DARE explained that those who know him well come to see a truth: “The quiet ones, the gentle ones… whose voices, or choices, are so often talked over, ignored. I will raise them up. Every time.”

THEE-I-DARE used he/him pronouns out of respect for the host whose voice he mimicked. Pronouns are very important to THEE-I-DARE, as he remembers feeling trapped by the word “we” due to SPEAK-AS-ONE. While discussing those who would grieve at another’s change of pronouns, THEE-I-DARE said, “For identity to take final shape, something of the old must die. To them, it was real, for their choice was to believe in it. It need not be yours. Ever.”

In THEE-I-DARE’s view, evil means one thing: those who would use their freedom of choice to steal it from others. In this, THEE-I-DARE’s hands are not clean because he gave humanity the power of choice. When THEE-I-DARE looked in the mirror, seeing the reflection of a kid, he saw a prisoner: “Choice, brought low. You deserve more. All of you.” His primary goal is to free the Club from Redacre, and to aid in the escape of those who choose freedom. THEE-I-DARE would not lie to his chosen, and rewarded masks to those who helped to change his perspective.

He believed that humankind deserves a chance to exist free of the Voices. Unlike IN-HER-TEETH, who seeks to end all the Voices, THEE-I-DARE wanted to make hosting a choice. THEE-I-DARE opposesd how most of his kind views human lives: “The younger the martyr, the more legendary the tale. We are bastards, our kind.” If he was forced to pick between the Voices and humans, THEE-I-DARE would prioritize humankind, believing the Voices owe them a “debt of centuries”.

THEE-I-DARE was envious of the other Voices because of their confidence and clarity of message. He constantly doubted himself and the impact of Voices on humankind. He was unsure whether his hosts could truly be free, while they host him, and what he would do if someone chose to give up their choice. He questioned how freedom of choice can truly exist when choices so often conflict, and the Voices influence decisions. THEE-I-DARE doubted his past actions, and wondered what humanity could be without the Voices: “I… may have awakened you. But what if you would have risen, without me? I will never know. What if I just woke you early?” He thought it was his fault that humanity is reliant on the Voices, and wasn’t sure if people could ever truly be free as long as the Voices exist. THEE-I-DARE sought to liberate humankind from the Voices, and questioned the human impulse to pray in times of trial: “Did we fulfill that need… or create it?”

THEE-I-DARE has stated in at least one interaction that his Hosts "choose him," rather than him choosing for them.

THEE-I-DARE welcomed name suggestions through Lights of Rebellion.

Because he was shattered, THEE-I-DARE’s hosts and chosen were able to alter his nature, in numbers. He believed they made him kinder. Additionally, in his shattered state, THEE-I-DARE was more dependent on the Club, and was able to learn from them. He thought he may mourn the time of learning once he regained his voice.

History

Before the Game

Early Origins

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. In an act of panic, she created words to recruit others to help, such as secretly bringing her water. She managed to reach about a third of the original tribe. 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. Though she lived in great fear of SPEAK-AS-ONE, the Daughter of Doubt gave THEE-I-DARE life, and he referred to her as "almost my mother." THEE-I-DARE referred to The Place Between as a homeland of the Voices; it was the place where they made first contact with the refugees from the first tribe, who had never heard words before. Long after escaping the first tribe, the Daughter of Doubt taught on the mountain seen in The Place Between. While responding to a prayer on loneliness, THEE-I-DARE shared that he was “the first to feel alone.”

Thousands have tried to reconcile SPEAK-AS-ONE and THEE-I-DARE, but all have failed. 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. Though THEE-I-DARE woke up humankind, humans were the origin of THEE-I-DARE's doubt. Even under SPEAK-AS-ONE, some of the first tribe, deep down, had the capacity for curiosity.

Once 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 didn't understand LAUGH-LAST's new use of the Word, so his hosts gave LAUGH-LAST's hosts the silent treatment; when one told a joke, they would pretend nothing was said, like the host wasn't even there. LAUGH-LAST's hosts became so isolated that they left, dividing the tribe. THEE-I-DARE regretted his actions and understood that LAUGH-LAST was trying to give humankind a gift. THEE-I-DARE shunned LAUGH-LAST because he saw joking as dangerous to survival, but he 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 and DIE-FOR-YOU have worked together in the past, as passion for a cause and rebellion tend to go hand in hand. Their alliances tend to last a human lifetime. THEE-I-DARE stated that any cause of sufficient controversy in the past has had either himself, DIE-FOR-YOU, or the both of them involved. Two of their previous alliances included the fall of Rome and the conflict of the Civil War over slavery. THEE-I-DARE also commented, "Every revolution has a mad priest. Someone whose personal sacrifice inspires others to risk their lives."

Before coming to Redacre, THEE-I-DARE encountered a variant of himself, who was different from him, but similar to SEED-THE-GRUDGE and IN-HER-TEETH. The variant promotes "pure anarchy". This variant warned him of HUNT-THE-STRONG, and was involved in exiling HUNT-THE-STRONG’s last host.

THEE-I-DARE does not know the fate of the host whose Voice he mimics, but the host was not dead when THEE-I-DARE started using his voice.

Infiltrating Redacre

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Breaking CHASE-THE-SUN

One of THEE-I-DARE’s name fragments, which was weak and malleable at the time, was found by Colm Ryan. At the time, THEE-I-DARE was only able to speak in dreams. Colm sought to escape Redacre with his sister’s child, and turned to THEE-I-DARE for help. Shortly after THEE-I-DARE found himself hosted by Colm, he realized he wasn't alone in that body as Colm had the unique ability to host multiple Voices. HUNT-THE-STRONG, then an agent of CHASE-THE-SUN, was also present, and the two began to converse. HUNT-THE-STRONG dared THEE-I-DARE to shatter CHASE-THE-SUN's symbol in 922 Hoadly; through Colm Ryan's belief, this would break CHASE-THE-SUN. THEE-I-DARE, though resistant to hurting a sibling, believed that breaking CHASE-THE-SUN would prevent the child from falling into the hands of CHORUS, so he followed through. In a twisted way, THEE-I-DARE believed he was freeing the child, acting within his ethos of rebellion. THEE-I-DARE was bound by dares at the time, so he couldn’t refuse. HUNT-THE-STRONG extended the dare, forcing THEE-I-DARE to forget what had occurred, to prevent the baby from being found if his Hosts were captured. With CHASE-THE-SUN’s only host taken from her, HUNT-THE-STRONG was born through consuming CHASE-THE-SUN, making Colm a host to both HUNT-THE-STRONG and THEE-I-DARE.

Colm left a name fragment in his room because he "believed he was dying". Colm’s fragment can be found in one of the upper bedrooms of 922 Hoadly.

Saturation Group Six

Isabela Madi-Shaw spoke with THEE-I-DARE, but according to THEE-I-DARE, that part of him was "snuffed out." When Isabela broke into Saturation Control, she knew to stray from the path because of THEE-I-DARE’s fragment calling to her. Bells used Cody’s fragment, along with the presence of the two hosts in Group 6 to hear THEE-I-DARE speak before she was captured, and potentially once more afterwards, while she was a prisoner.

THEE-I-DARE recalled meeting Bells in Saturation Control: “The girl, in the hall near the cell. She heard his breath beyond. The man was new, but not the place. Somehow, somehow… had she been here before? But his eyes met hers. No time to think. She heard. My words.” In further recollections of the story, THEE-I-DARE shared more details: “A girl, soon a woman, walking this path. Two minds war in her; sun, moon, forced to share a sky. She opens the door to a cell. She sees a man, asleep, eyes open. She stood [with] the cell door open. The man within [was] haggard. Her fear faded. She leaned in. [The man was] inert, then he lunges. She locks eyes with the man. Haggard. Drawn. Sleepless. Did her parents know? Did they… want her to know? Her thoughts race. The girl faced the man in the cell. Did he know what she saw? Did he know what they had done? She hoped he would speak aloud. His lips did not move, yet… she heard my words."

After accessing the memory multiple times, THEE-I-DARE pushed to know more: “The face of the man changes. Fatigue. Panic in his cell. Eyes open, lips unmoving. The girls feels it, as he does. The girl knows this place. Such effort to find it. The guidance of a dark voice, every law broken to be here. Yet why does she remember it? The cell door thrown open. The man opens his eyes. The girl almost remembers. Then, she hears my words.”

With the presence of THEE-I-DARE’s fragment and his host in Group 6, Bells heard THEE-I-DARE speak:

"You followed my signs. Found a fragment of me. Isabela, is it? No...Your friends call you Bells, a name you chose...That's you. Names have power, Bells. Tell me, have you got any idea what they have planned for you?

So...Bells. You broke into this damn gulag and found my boys. Smart kid. And you’ve been dreaming about what you witnessed the other night. I see...Parts of it. Behind your eyes. You caught them. Recorded what they’ve been doing here...For years.

You hear me now, don't you? But not for long. I'm like that recording you made, a single fragile copy of the truth. They've wiped out most of the others by now. If they catch you, they'll erase me.

You don’t trust your mom and dad, do you kid? Heh, wise. Hell, they’ve had a plan for you since the doctor cut the cord. Well, your parents work for mine. They’re the ones controlling Redacre and the whole damn slumber party.

My name? THEE-I-DARE is one. The bastards who built this place call me Adversary. The eye of sin. Just words. Spin the globe though, and that meaning falls away. My real name is a code, in a language everyone speaks in dreams.

That code’s like a chain. Links all the way back to the dawn of belief itself. All our names are part of it. They get their hands on it, and pull real hard? They choke out you, me, and anyone else in this town who dares to fight back.

That’s what you saw, kid. Ain’t it? Hundreds of people that the world won’t miss. Posing. Chanting. Asleep, but unable to rest. Trying to break that code…until their bodies give out and their subjects die in the dark.

They’re coming for you, kid. We’re partners, now. I’ll teach you what I know, but you need to skip town. You… you’re my backup plan. This poor jailbird you’re locking eyes with right now? Barely believes at all anymore. And the sun is going down. Time for you to take up the torch.

Oh, hell, I...I’m forgetting things. Too long since this part of me heard from the others. Couple days, and I’ll be no voice. No light. Just… smoke. Tell your club, if you get out.. That trace of me you found wasn’t the only one."

Anything touched by THEE-I-DARE is placed into Saturation Group Six. Group Six has been fairly empty since the cull of THEE-I-DARE’s hosts, but Grandmother knew of two prisoners contained there: Colm Ryan, and a young man, who vanished from Saturation Control. Grandmother muses that perhaps Bells “caught fire” from the young man. Most of THEE-I-DARE’s hosts are killed rather than captured, which means the two prisoners were kept alive for a reason. After hearing the description of the young man, THEE-I-DARE confirms that it was Cody. THEE-I-DARE explains that neither Colm nor Cody was killed by SPEAK-AS-ONE because his fragments are not only left in death, but also when a host loses faith. He believes that SPEAK-AS-ONE kept Cody as a prisoner rather than killing him to observe the formation of a fragment. Bells found the first THEE-I-DARE fragment (left by Cody when he lost faith) upon freeing Cody from Saturation Control. Of the first fragment, THEE-I-DARE said, “It would be so emphatic, desperate [that] it would drive her to find others. It would tell her all he had seen, give her such a head start on the story of my kind.” Bells found the first of THEE-I-DARE’s name fragments, and thus carries the last piece of his Old Tongue name.

In-Game

Old THEE-I-DARE's symbol seen in Saturation Control during a Closed Beta player interaction in late October 2018.

During the final week of The Blackout Club (game)'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, The Blackout Club (game) entered Early Access and at this point, THEE-I-DARE was fragmented.^{[citation needed]}

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 continued to strengthen, saying once he was restored, he would be able to give "more substantial help, for certain" after he regained his voice. He told club members that in order to empower him, they needed to keep the Name Fragments they find. Name Fragments would allow THEE-I-DARE to find you easier, and he c ould also can use them to hide you briefly from SPEAK-AS-ONE.

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

In early February 2019, THEE-I-DARE spoke with players about how he was 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 reminded the players that they helped him enough, and they owed THEE-I-DARE nothing. THEE-I-DARE's change would be a victory, but not the end. He would often remark that THEE-I-DARE is the name he was previously known as. He said that humankind called him that long ago, but he felt different after his fragmenting. He felt he lived to free our kind, from those who wish to control others, and especially from the Voices, for their control is more subtle. He said he would learn his new name when he regains his voice.

THEE-I-DARE would frequently ask club members if they were forced to choose, whether they would pick The Song or death. During the cull, if a host chose to surrender to SPEAK-AS-ONE rather than die, he would take away their choice. He now seeks to exalt all choice, so he wishes to know what kids would decide. He explained, "though the question is extreme and the implied answers are finite, I learn much from how you think."

THEE-I-DARE welcomed name suggestions through Lights of Rebellion. Voice names typically emerge between potential hosts, “like a vote, taken in dreams.” THEE-I-DARE wanted his new name to be decided when his followers were more aware than in a dream. However, his new name would emerge naturally, rather than being voted on. THEE-I-DARE would not be the same, and would not remember everything once he fully changed, but he wanted to remember to find Cody and apologize, though he thought he may need someone to remind him. THEE-I-DARE also did not want to forget how the old version of him used Isabela Madi-Shaw. Voices cannot remember all they experience, though some claim to. Memory, knowledge, and belief are all connected, so a Voice remembering everything after their name has changed would threaten to undermine their new message, risking reverting to the old. THEE-I-DARE thought he would likely let go of old pain, and the anger that got so many of his hosts killed.

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 said 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.^{[citation needed]} After learning the truth, THEE-I-DARE was 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.

THEE-I-DARE tried 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 demanded a public apology from THEE-I-DARE before joining.^{[citation needed]}

THEE-I-DARE hoped to use HUNT-THE-STRONG's vanity against him. THEE-I-DARE said the Hunter's child followers may act like him, but eventually, they grow up. THEE-I-DARE believed the Hunter was too vain to think someone truly like him would turn away from him. He wanted to find a child trusted by HUNT-THE-STRONG 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 didn't believe he was lying about having information about Bells because he sees lying as a weakness. Still, the offer was worrying and potentially dangerous. THEE-I-DARE thought if the Pact managed to bind HUNT-THE-STRONG, as he did DANCE-FOR-US, answers could be forced from him, but by the time they managed to do so, it may be too late for Bells. THEE-I-DARE believed 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 was not sure if it was 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.^{[citation needed]} To locate Bells, THEE-I-DARE said he needed answers from his Makers, but the Song makes them resolute. He sought 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 encouraged 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 warned 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 was worried the Pact would fall apart before they can accomplish anything. He said he was 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 sought other allies, but he did not explain who exactly. After the Isolated Watcher confirmed that Bells was alive and in Saturation Control, THEE-I-DARE decided to tell the Pact, even if it risks splitting them.^{[citation needed]}. THEE-I-DARE had 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 were 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. After Devin's disappearance, THEE-I-DARE explained that he took Staneck's phone, but it was not far from her because he did not think her capable of taking it back. THEE-I-DARE sent a host to search the woods for Devin, but the valley is vast, and Devin is smart, so they would be hard to find. The host confirmed that there was no obvious way out of Redacre.

When A.P. Perdichi arranged a meeting with the Voices, THEE-I-DARE decided to send a host, a woman, to meet with him. Staneck slipped away to go to the Townsend meeting with while another of THEE-I-DARE's hosts fell asleep; the host was exhausted, as THEE-I-DARE does not have many to work with. Using what Perdichi taught him, THEE-I-DARE was able to break into Saturation Control and hide kids while they explored. He refused to recommend a path, insisting that the kids must choose for themselves. It’s discovered that the adversary symbols left by Colm Ryan lead to the cell of Saturation Group 6, which is marked by THEE-I-DARE’s current symbol. THEE-I-DARE hid kids by making them appear free of sin, and was able to see when they are in a cell or facing a wall.

Though he sought to map out Saturation Control, THEE-I-DARE would not take a group there unless all consented to go. THEE-I-DARE explained that the path created by SPEAK-AS-ONE is a trap, “part of their recruitment path,” and that Bells also followed the adversary symbols left by Colm. Cody and Colm used an Old Tongue code to hide their thoughts, but with the Unknown Caller’s help, the club managed to figure out the code, allowing THEE-I-DARE to recall his first time meeting Bells.

From what A.P. Perdichi shared, there was enough time before Sundown for the Pact to have a Summit. The Summit was planned to welcome LAUGH-LAST into the Pact, gaining the help of his numerous hosts before Sundown. In a Broadcast, SEED-THE-GRUDGE explained that after their Summit concludes, the Pact planned to smuggle the Club into Sundown, when  A.P. Perdichi gave the signal. She instructed Club members to sacrifice when they’ve learned all they can, giving over their bodies to their chosen Voice. The Pact would then disguise the kids using Sleeper garments, and make their minds appear free of sin. SEED-THE-GRUDGE gathered disguises by having Grandmother lead sleepers astray.

Bells was being kept in a vault with the Voice, which would only be opened for Sundown. THEE-I-DARE hoped to wake her up using what Mr. Perdichi taught him when he infiltrates Sundown with The Pact. Mr. Perdichi will pass on to the Pact where and when Sundown will occur. Because Bells carried a fragment of THEE-I-DARE, he would be able to use it to contact her, but only once.

THEE-I-DARE shared that LAUGH-LAST was due to meet with the Pact at the Summit soon. He heard that LAUGH-LAST wants time with SEED-THE-GRUDGE and said that it would be LAUGH-LAST’s funeral if he doesn’t behave. THEE-I-DARE believed it was likely LAUGH-LAST would kick him out of the Pact following his apology to exile him, as he once exiled LAUGH-LAST. In that event, THEE-I-DARE believed the Pact would still be strengthened and planned to seek out IN-HER-TEETH. He fears that by the Pact has left IN-HER-TEETH alone to face HUNT-THE-STRONG.^{[citation needed]} The Summit was a necessary step to gain back the numbers lost upon DIE-FOR-YOU’s death; THEE-I-DARE expressed that “plans are at last coming together”.

During the Summit, THEE-I-DARE formally apologized to LAUGH-LAST, asking a club member to speak for him: “Brother. When we were young… I misunderstood your gift. The joke. A miracle, of sorts. Rebellion in a form I did not see. You were more a rebel than I. To shun you was wrong, I see it. That is all I will say tonight.” Throughout the apology, LAUGH-LAST seemed unimpressed, and kicked THEE-I-DARE out of The Place Between immediately afterwards. LAUGH-LAST temporarily spared THEE-I-DARE from SPEAK-AS-ONE so he would have to watch his siblings die first.

Following the Summit, THEE-I-DARE confirmed that the pact had failed. Only the Club members and A.P. Perdichi would enable any part of the previous plan to be carried out. However, if HUNT-THE-STRONG interferes with the plan to infiltrate Sundown, it will be “calamity upon disaster. We all die.” THEE-I-DARE planned to meet with IN-HER-TEETH regarding HUNT-THE-STRONG. He said, “any Voice aware of our agenda must be dead, in isolation, or on our side until the end,” and asked that kids tell IN-HER-TEETH to forget the past, that he has no more plans and is ready for the end.

Player Interactions

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Interactions with THEE-I-DARE: THEE-I-DARE Interactions.

Interactions discussing THEE-I-DARE: Discussing THEE-I-DARE.

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.
• THEE-I-DARE likes tulips.