QS Codes or Quick Scan Codes are optional pieces of clickable lore found in Mr. Rainer's Solve-It Service.
System Info[]
When the Quick Scan Code is first seen, the player is able to access the following System Information message in order to learn more information about Quick Scan Codes. Quick Scan Codes, or "QS Codes," are described within the narrative as a way to distribute advertisements and information about the world.
QUICK SCAN CODE
- “QS” is an abbreviation for “Quick Scan”.
- QS codes are used for distributing advertisements
- and other kinds of information on HJÖ.
- Tip from MR RAINER:
- Look out for the QS codes!
- You might learn something new.
Quick Scan Codes[]
Throughout the game, 10 different QS Codes can be obtained through various locations. Each one gives their recipient a small amount of knowledge about the world of Mr. Rainer's Solve-It Service and its history.
GOT UIBO?[]
The "GOT UIBO?" is the first QS Code that appears in the game, and is also the only QS Code that must be obtained in order to progress the game. It is found in the first Carrier that ÜLAR rides. This QS Code is a simple advertisement for UNIBLOCK, or UIBO, that entices its' audience to pre-order UIBO.
This UIBO is actually the reason for the first Problem that ÜLAR must solve, as the UIBO delivery had been delayed in DOME FÖ. After this problem is solved, other Raincoat-hjörians are seen talking about how glad they are to have received their UIBO, signifying a job well done.
QS Code Pop-Up
- GOT UIBO?
- Satisfy your purchase cravings by ordering
- a UNIBLOCK, UIBO for short!
- Locally grown and compact,
- they'll naturally dissolve in 30 days!
- Pre-order your UIBO right now:
- MÜ-GETUIBO-ORDER
Why are Voting Shows Popular?[]
"Why are voting shows popular?" is a short article that analyzes the reasons why Raincoat-hjörians enjoy the VOTING SHOW. It is found in DOME AINU while ÜLAR is resting. The author, HUGO, hypothesizes that because the raincoat-hjörian mind is geared towards control, VOTING SHOWS are popular because they give the audience a sense of control. They also hypothesize that individuals who want to become anonymous spectators and individuals who want to be in the spotlight both get what they want out of the VOTING SHOW.
The second segment of the article wonders why Raincoat-hjörians pay for ads. The reason given is that they're short, entertaining, and they have a clear goal. Advertisements are also free of gossip.
QS Code Pop-Up
- Why are voting shows popular?
- "I would say that raincoat-hjörian mind structure is
- naturally geared towards control, which in turn is a survival
- mechanism. Voting shows allow us to simulate that sense of
- control in a world we have no power of altering.
- Another popular opinion on the topic is that in an already
- divided society that's increasingly becoming segregated into
- two extremes (individuals aspiring to become anonymous
- spectators in order to closely watch public personas, and
- individuals in the spotlight who are required to showcase all
- the details of their lives to be able to perform for large
- audiences (see Transparency Rating)), voting shows prove to
- be the perfect format where spectators get to influence what
- entertainers should do, often for huge amounts of credits.”
- Why do we pay for ads?
- “They’re short and entertaining. Much more creative than
- anything EV has to offer, and they’re free of gossip. Most
- raincoat-hjörians would say, “at least these ads have a clear
- goal, unlike hours of watching some guy analyze his own
- reaction videos”.”
- - HUGO, an Entertainment expert
HJÖ Map[]
The HJÖ map can be accessed when ÜLAR is walking through DOME AINU shortly before his Daily Task. It shows a map of the DOMES in relation to each other, and can reveal a lot about the general area when translated. Each DOME is named with a letter, short for the entire DOME name. However, one DOME is not mentioned throughout the game in full, one labelled with a simple "O."
 untranslated |
 translated |
Apply to Bloom[]
The Apply to Bloom QS Code is accessed in DOME SOO while ÜLAR is working on Problem SOO-A-02. It features a short advertisement from DOME TAU directed towards SOLVERs specifically. It tells SOLVERs that they could be tomorrow's FLOWER, and uses the FLOWER motif often associated with DOME TAU.
These black flowers are seen in the Field of the Undying, and are noted as being data storage units for Raincoat-hjörians. This means that it's actually possible somebody could be a FLOWER.
QS Code Pop-Up
- APPLY TO BLOOM
- Today's SOLVER is tomorrow's FLOWER!
- We'll be waiting for you at DOME TAU.
The Origin of Entertainment[]
The Origin of Entertainment QS Code is obtained at DOME MÜ after ÜLAR leaves the VOTING SHOW. From this code, it is discovered that numerous aspects of Hjörian society originated from DOME MÜ, namely; Echovision, Tunestream, Holoweave, and Massacre Arena. Each one is governed by a God of Entertainment of which there are four; God fo Static, God of Distortion, God of Violence, and God of Delusion.
Tunestream and Holoweave are never seen in the narrative, but Massacre Arena was seen in DOME NOI as a way for ECHOES to fight each other. Each God corresponds to different Constellations of Entertainment, which are used as warp points as explained by EINAR.
ÜLAR likely used a Constellation of Distortion, as the God of Distortion governs VOTING SHOWS and the area he appears in is called the Domain of Distortion. Echovision is the medium for all visual entertainment, so every time an advertisement is played, Echovision is at work.
QS Code Pop-Up
- THE ORIGIN OF ENTERTAINMENT
- Echovision, Tunestream, Holoweave and even Massacre Arena
- all originate from DOME MÜ.
- MÜ is divided into four Domains.
- Each Domain is governed by its respective God of Entertainment:
- God of Static
- Primary creation: Tunestream
- Tunestream is an echochannel dedicated to music.
- Live events are organized and sponsored by Tunestream,
- the most famous event being Luminous Thread Festival.
- God of Distortion
- Primary creation: Echovision
- Echovision is the medium for all visual entertainment on HJÖ.
- Mainly dedicated to producing paid advertisements,
- voting shows and educational programs.
- God of Violence
- Primary creation: Massacre Arena
- Massacre Arena is located in DOME NOI.
- It's dedicated to ECHO sports and competition contests.
- God of Delusion
- Primary creation: Holoweave
- Holoweave produces 90% of all patches on HJÖ,
- and offers a wide range of virtual services.
The Wiping[]
The Wiping is a QS Code that can be found just after ÜLAR uses a Constellation of Entertainment as a warp point. It's one of the first pieces of information that expands upon The History of Raincoat-Hjörians file seen in the menu. The Wiping is the first named calamity that occurred on HJÖ. It corrupted all existing fiber data, completely erasing all history that existed before this time and making all subsequent years "After Escha."
Etheroids purified the gas cloud over time, but produced RED FOG as a side effect of their purification. This Red Fog can be seen in multiple areas throughout the game, and is notably harmful for raincoat fibers.
The VOR-class gas cloud known as ESCHA corresponds to the Artefact Class of VOR, and may have had a certain level of sentience. It is the only VOR-class Artefact mentioned in the game.
QS Code Pop-Up
- The Wiping (0 — 3100 Æ*)
- An enormous VOR-class gas cloud, ESCHA, descended upon HJÖ, corrupting all existing fiber data. During that period raincoat-hjörians weren't using ECHONET, so there was no data backup at the time. All the accessible data (as well as episodic memories) was lost, leaving raincoat-hjörians as a nation without history. Over a large period of time, etheroids have purified the gas cloud, neutralizing its negative effects. The side product of purification exists in the form of RED FOG, which is still highly harmful for raincoat fibers.
- (*) Æ — After Escha year count
The Suffocation[]
The Suffocation code can be accessed in DOME VI as ÜLAR and RENE walk across the bridge. After the Raincoat-hjörians were forced into underground hiding after the events of The Flood, raincoat-hjörians made the EIGHT DOMES. Each dome had a specific goal, although some isolated societies also created their own Domes, these being ÖÖKRON, HÄÄ, REA, and SOO. DOME SOO is the only isolated society ever seen in the game, and is seen when ÜLAR is trying to solve Problem SOO-A-02. DOME SOO also failed immensely, with its leakings causing it to create Rainchildren.
Domes are explained to have created segregation in Raincoat-hjörian society, and issue that was solved using ECHOES and ECHONET. This specific calamity is an unknown virulent agent that caused 80% of all etheroids to go extinct. Many campaigned for increased etheroid care and protection as a result of this issue. Pluvology became more focused on developing artificial raincoats that perform the same actions that standard raincaot fibers do, but also use alternative energy. This was studied at DOME TAU.
QS Code Pop-Up
- The Suffocation (3400 — 3500 Æ)
- Trying to escape the underground confinement, raincoat-hjörians joined their forces to build structures that provided protection from the Rain: THE EIGHT DOMES. Each dome was goal-oriented (raincoat-hjörian production, problem-solving, entertainment, scientific research, Artefact containment, commerce, voluntary shutdown, life farms). Those who disagreed with the plan formed their own isolated societies, deciding to build their own domes (namely, ÖÖKRON, HÄÄ, REA, SOO). The quality of these domes’ architectural structure and protection levels varied greatly, which is why some of them became partially destroyed and uninhabited over time.
- The building of Domes resulted in the segregation of the raincoat-hjörian society, and means to connect became a must. The solution was found in the form of ECHOES, which overpopulated HJÖ at the time, as the Flood produced an enormous amount of hjörians, which Echoes used as temporary hosts for protection and nutrition. By taking control of Echoes' mental network, THE ECHONET, raincoat-hjörians became able to communicate over huge distances.
- However, another calamity fell upon HJÖ: an unknown virulent agent caused the extinction of 80% of all etheroids. This led to multiple social campaigns promoting etheroid care and protection, and artificial pollution of the ether to stimulate etheroid population growth. Leading scientists of HJÖ began researching alternative forms of energy to provide raincoat-hjörians with life force, which led to the expansion of etheroid experimentation branch at DOME TAU. Pluvology shifted its focus to developing artifical raincoats that can both store data the same way raincoat fibers do and use alternative energy.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENTS ON HJÖ[]
Political Alignments on HJÖ is a QS code that can be accessed when ÜLAR arrives to The Tunnels with AIK. It shows and describes the four main political alignments of HJÖ; Polyphony, Cacophony, Monophony, and Harmony in a graph with two axes. It is unknown where any characters in Mr. Rainer's Solve-It Service fall on this political compass, although AIK does condescendingly apply the label of polyphonist to ÜLAR.
QS Code Pop-Up
- POLITICAL ALIGNMENTS ON HJÖ
- There are four main political alignments on HJÖ:
- Polyphony, Cacophony, Monophony and Harmony.
- They are arranged by 2 axes:
- Vertical (Order - Chaos)
- Horizontal (Individuality - Community)
- Polyphony
- Upper-left - Chaos - Individuality
- Voices of many, each on their own.
- Cacophony
- Upper-right - Chaos - Community
- Voices of many, never in sync.
- Harmony
- Lower-right - Order - Community
- Voices of many, all as one.
- Monophony
- Lower-left - Order - Individuality
- The voice of one.
The Flood[]
The Flood is a QS Code that can be accessed in AIK's hideout. It takes places just before The Suffocation. The previously dormant CLOUD, presumably ESCHA, began to release The Rain. This Rain caused mental disturbances to Raincoat-hjörians who came into physical contact with it. Many escaped underground, however, flooding of these areas led to the emergence of Rainchildren. Rainchildren all had a shared trait of a vocal tic of a constantly repeated syllable, followed by a whispery sound.
While most Raincoat-hjörians moved into DOMES, some refused to return to the surface and live in underground vaults. AIK appears to be someone who still lives in an underground vault, as his hideout is seen underground in The Tunnels.
QS Code Pop-Up
- The Flood (3100 — 3400 Æ)
- Following the descent of the gas Artefact, the previously dormant CLOUD in the sky became active, and never-ending Rain began falling down on HJÖ. The Rain was toxic to raincoat fibers, and coming in contact with it resulted in mental disturbances, ranging from hallucinations to psychotic breaks. Raincoat-hjörian tribes, which previously lived in scattered small communities, had to move underground to escape the Rain.
- However, underground spaces often got flooded, which led to emergence of Rainchildren: raincoat-hjörians whose minds were altered after extended exposure to the Rain. All of them share a common trait: each one has a vocal tic consisting of a constantly repeated syllable, followed by an unintelligible whispery sound.
- In the modern era most raincoat-hjörians moved into Domes, but some refused to return to the surface. Thus, underground vaults exist to this day.
The Termination[]
The Termination is the only QS Code accessed after inputting The Name of the Song. It covers the upcoming apocalypse announced by the Factory that is seen at the end of the A Bouquet for Ephemerality route. All raincoats are noted to have the same expiration date. Pluvologists are unable to develop artificial raincoats that can store large amounts of data in the way raincoats do before this expiration date, and have since given up and develop artificial raincoats for entertainment. One such artificial raincoat is ERIK, who becomes a streamer.
Ascensionists have created a belief system that promotes passing on one's own terms, which is something ÜLAR does in the A Bouquet for all Hjörian-kind route at DOME KRI.
QS Code Pop-Up
- The Termination (3500 Æ — present)
- An upcoming apocalypse officially announced by the Factory.
- According to scientific estimation and simulations, all raincoats have the same expiration date stored in their fiber metadata, after which they'll shut down completely.
- TAU pluvologists have announced that it’s impossible to develop artificial raincoats that can store large amounts of data the way raincoat fibers do in the short amount of time they have left, so their research became focused on developing artifical raincoats for entertainment purposes instead.
- The public activities before Termination can be characterized by BOREDOM, VIOLENT SPORTS and VOTING SHOW FORMAT DOMINATION on the entertainment market. The most popular belief system is ASCENSIONISM, which promises passing on your own terms.
Trivia[]
- The author of "Why are voting shows popular?" is named HUGO. This name can be seen in the scene where ÜLAR first encounters Reverse ÜLAR as one of the TAGS floating above the Raincoat-hjörian's heads.
- The Map of HJÖ bears a large similarity to a very basic diagram of a cell. A direct comparison would make The Titan the nucleolus, the metaslime the nucleoplasm, and the general inner circle the nucleus. The Unharvested Sea could be a lysosome, and the concentrated red fog could be the endoplasmic reticulum and/or the golgi apparatus in this comparison.
Gallery[]
| Map CGs |
|---|
  GOT UIBO? Code  Why are voting shows popular? Code  Map of DOME  Apply to Bloom  The Origin of Entertainment  The Wiping (0 — 3100 Æ*)  The Suffocation (3400 — 3500 Æ)  Political Alignments on HJÖ  The Flood (3100 — 3400 Æ)  The Termination (3500 Æ — present) |
| Pop-Ups |
|---|
 Map of HJÖ  Apply to Bloom  Political Alignments on HJÖ |
| System |
|---|
 Info Icon |