The Mark of the Atlas

[atlasmods]

THE MARK OF THE ATLAS Into the heart of the city you go. Down below the lowest levels of the city, somewhere beyond the twisty maze of passages, several of the paths converge in a huge underground cavern. Here the air is blissfully cool compared to the desert above. A single shaft of light shines down from somewhere on the surface; motes of sand drift lazily as if suspended in the light. Elsewhere, the cave is lit by small clusters of glowing fungus that live off the moisture collected down here. Dim but navigable for most. But perhaps the most striking items in the area are the monoliths. Great fragments of stone over three meters long, too smooth to be natural but too jagged to be whole either. Several of them glow from the pulse of energy running through them. Others, while dark, have recessed notches large enough for a person’s hand. And still another group seems nearly shattered, a larger fragment surrounded by smaller ones. All of them react when the interlopers draw close enough... LIGHT Upon closer inspection, the lit monoliths have a curious pattern worked into the tone. The symbols are rather arcane, but perhaps they make sense if one tilts one’s head and squints. This one has strokes that resemble tongues of flame. That one is covered in cascading, fluid lines. Another … well, that look more like a warning sign than anything else. Interacting with these monoliths results in a warning crackle and the scent of ozone before the monolith opens. Something comes pouring out of it in response. Gushing water is the most common, matching up with the cascade monoliths; others open to flame or greenery or other odd things. And one definitely opens up into a vacuum. Careful with that unless you want to have something sucked out into space. Whatever connection they make is brief and non-traversable, but whatever comes through stays on this side. DARK The unlit monoliths aren’t nearly as flashy as their glowing brethren, but they have their own stories to tell. With the help of a little light (and the suit), the interlopers will find that these monoliths are covered from top to bottom in alien script. Most have at least one solid crack or chunk in them - at the juiciest parts! - but there may be enough left to be intelligible, given a little luck. VISION The last set hum with an ominous energy that belies their dilapidated appearance. Interlopers who approach these monoliths trigger strange images that float in the air. No two visions are alike, though they all share common themes. Silhouettes descending to the surface of the planet and spreading out across it. Exploring and interacting with an alien environment. There’s something deeply familiar about these shadows despite the variety of body types represented by them. The shape of their clothing is reminiscent of your own suit... Other snippets are set in space. Here the silhouettes are a darker patch of black against the darkness of space. The mood in these images is strangely pensive, somewhat tense. These figures are searching very desperately for something. There is one, though, that’s different from all the others. No silhouettes, no searching, no space. Only a shaft of light starting from a point beyond this planet’s moon. At first it’s a too-bright star; then, a solid beam stretching down to the planet itself. The light increases in intensity and breadth exponentially until it impacts physically with the surface of the planet itself. The eruption kicks up huge clouds of dust that race towards the city with all the heat and speed of a pyroclastic explosion. It rises up like a wave...and then crashes down, burying the city. Eventually, each of the images go dark once again. BROKEN Amidst the myriad of strange monoliths and now-flowing water? Is some sort of chassis. The ruined frame of an old robot of some kind, easily as large as a cement mixer's chamber and just as tall. Most of it lies buried beneath the sand, stuck near the far end of one particularly large chamber within the caves' network. It takes a bit of walking to get there, but there's a reward to be had for those who find it: The room is not empty. Standing in the exact middle is a strange, hulking figure. It stands at eight feet at least, a massive frame encased in black. Whether it's carapace or suit is impossible to tell, and whether or not it's alive is another story altogether. It stands perfectly motionless, skull-like face staring ahead at the robot's husk as water pools in through cracks and recesses, giving the ground a glass-like appearance through which tiny grass-like eels can be seen rising from tiny holes in the sand. For all intents and purposes the figure seems nothing more than a statue. Eerie. OOC There will be an 24-hour event encounter which runs from Nov 26th at 8:00am EST to Nov 27th at 8:00am EST. Feel free to let characters toy around & thread in the innermost areas of the city before the main event! Sections will go up in this entry and will be linked here when they are ready.

Comments

[astromechanic]

[ Hunk shakes the dust from his hair, continuing to inspect the robot with Pidge. He could use a project right about now. A good distraction from -

the who?

He turns, gaze shifting from Allura to the statue with uncertainty. The Balmera had been a peaceful creature when Allura had done her thing. They don't know what the heck this guy is. ]

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge is focused on clambering up the robot--then lets out a sudden, surprised yelp at the new voice, which catches her entirely off-guard. ]

The sleeping what?

[ As she turns her head to look back towards Allura, she misses her footing and goes tumbling downwards. Hopefully Hunk is paying attention or they both might end up in a tangled heap in the sand. ]

[mousewhisperer]

[ It is true that the Balmera had been peaceful, and Allura largely has no clue of what she is doing. Tapping into her life force had been instinctive then, but this doesn't feel quite as natural.

The hand on her arm gets her to look at the man, her expression slightly put-out. ] Lack of friendliness is hardly reason to stop.

[ If she'd let something like that stop her before, she wouldn't have been out fighting an evil empire. ] We might be able to get answers from him.

[ The noise from Pidge tumbling down does catch her attention, but she doesn't move from her spot next to the statue, or get her to move her hand. There's a goal to accomplish, and she's determined to see it through. ]

[kharans]

[ The connection is slow to form, fragmented and unstable and muffled at best. Whatever this thing is, emotions and direct, conscious thought are not its usual primary function. But it is most certainly some sort of creature and not simply a construct or statue. It's alive, and it takes a moment before its bone-like face tilts ever so slightly to the side as it processes her questions.

The First it had met before, the "Cayde", had asked many questions at once as well. An exhausting experience. It suspects these are much like Cayde. ]

This one is...The Last. [ The Last is also not big on talking or conversations, but it does begin to shift and draw itself up, impractically long fingers flexing at its sides. It makes no move to dissuade Allura. ]

The Last of Kharas.

[astromechanic]

[ He's totally not paying attention to Pidge............

but he does turn his head to look up at her when she yelps, and it's thanks to that noise that Hunk's arms reach out to catch his friend in a bridal carry. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim looks back at the yelp, but seeing the girl caught safely, he turns his attention back to the creature. His hand falls from Allura's arm but he still doesn't move away. Just in case. ]

Who are the Kharas? [ Yes well because she's right and yes he's also going to ask questions, so. ] Is the crashed ship yours, were you the ones to bring us here? Or are you from this city?

[ex_broach530]

[ Hey what's going on in this room— !?

oh, a bunch of people are talking to a statue. Seems legit.

Bull ambles in, relieved to finally see some other people after navigating his way down here alone, since he's pretty used to traveling in a party. He's also pretty used to just sitting back and letting things play out, so after squinting up at the bony figure and then looking back to Allura with her hand pressed so determinedly to it he just kind of stays it of the way. Or as out of the way as someone like his size can get. Don't mind him, just monitoring the situation. ]

[mousewhisperer]

[ At least Pidge is relatively safe, and Allura can turn her attention back to the creature. She registers the questions from her companion, but for the moment, all she can focus on is "the last" bit of his speech. ]

You are the last of your people? [ Or the planet, which really isn't much different. Allura knows all too well the destruction of both, and she has to swallow around a lump in her throat to talk next. ] I am one of the last of my people, as well. What happened here, my friend? Can you answer the questions of my companion?

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge grunts as Hunk's arms catch her. There's a wince and she rubs her head sheepishly, grinning up at her savior. ]

Thanks, Hunk. Sorry...

[ She trails off into silence, then begins to untangle herself as she watches Allura converse with the being. She's distracted by Bull's appearance (wow he's big) but the main event is the mysterious discussion happening across the chamber. ]

UPDATE: Boney will now reply every 3 comments!

[kharans]

Yes.

[ So helpful as an answer, I know. But at least The Last doesn't stop there and continues on have a heavy pause. Jim asked a lot of questions though, so The Last decides to go with: the last (one)! It's just easiest that way. ]

This one is not. Kharas dead. Empty. Was...searching. Then Overseers came, destroyed. Now only this one if left. [ Or, that's what it thought until it met Cayde, anyway. And just like it had with the Exo The Last will lift an elongated arm and extend one of its fingers, reaching out to tap the mark on the back of Allura's hand; the same Atlas mark they all bear. ]

Until The First.

ty!

[astromechanic]

[ To Pidge: ] No problem... [ and he lets her settle back on her feet, briefly looking at the horned guy as he enters the chamber. With his hands free again he presses one against the robot carapace, leaning against it as he watches the conversation. ]

[exorion]

[SPEAKING OF CAYDE GUESS WHO'S HERE (20 minutes late with starbucks, he got distracted poking at the outside) because like hell is he gonna ignore weird alien tech. What is this, a pod? A wee baby ship? Boudoir? Hope you missed Cayde and all his questions, buddy.]

Yeah, about that. [HEY BONEFRIEND] Nice to see you again, glad to see you're still... Tall... What do you mean when you call us the First?

[winscenario]

[ Jim looks from the skull-like face to the finger tapping the back of the woman's hand. ]

The First... [ He glances to the new arrival, silent for a brief moment before hazarding a guess. ] The First of us to wake up, maybe?

[kharans]

[ Oh, there's the chatty guy. The Last looks to Cayde as he speaks up and draws its attention, hand hanging in the air as it chooses to speak. This guy is just not big on being fast or moving whatsoever. Like he only does one thing at a time. ]

Yes. [ Nailed it in one Kirk! ] The First to wake after The Last.

[ex_bossily211]

[Clara comes skidding into the room way over 20 minutes late and without Starbucks she's basically the worst. There's a smile on her face as she spots so many of the others, though that's quickly wiped away when she takes in what's been found. She's basically missed everything that's been said so far except that last little bit, but since it looks like it's all very important she hangs a good distance back and just looks a little awestruck.]

Made a new friend, have we?

[Her head tips to the side as she recalls the words she heard upon entering.]

You were saying something presumably important. Don't stop on my account.

[mousewhisperer]

[ Well, it looks like Allura doesn't need to keep touching it, so she drops her hand and steps back. That way everyone can join in the little impromptu question and answer session. ]

Who are the Overseers?

[winscenario]

[ Jim glances back at the familiar voice, offering Clara a faint and not all that genuine smile. The situation doesn't really call for it, and while Jim would like to talk to her and apologize for his weird behavior when they first met, that'd have to wait. ]

I'm all about that.

[ He turns to the Last again for now, eyes lingering on Allura for a brief moment at her question, throwing a guess more to himself more than anything. ]

The ones who brought us here?

[kharans]

[ And that's the apparent end of their correct guesses. That made things so much easier...oh well. The Last's bony face rotates fifteen degrees to the left as it finally draws its long fingers from Allura's hand and points instead to the broken robot in the far corner. ]

Overseers destroy.

[winscenario]

[ Well, at least he tried. At the answer he looks over to the robot by the corner, that simple announcement making his worries shift quickly. He hadn't even given the robot a second glance when he came into the chamber, but now. ]

There are these monoliths, [ He starts, addressing the others in the room more so than the creature. ] They show you visions if you touch them. Most likely memories, I think. Couldn't figure that out. But there was one— of a beam of light hitting the planet and causing a reaction that buried the city.

[ He turns to the Last again. ] Is that what you mean? Was that the Overseers?

[astromechanic]

[ Hunk blinks at the robot, letting his hand fall away from it cautiously. ]

Are there more of them down here?

[ex_broach530]

[ Bull walks a little closer to the "robot", not that that's a term he knows. He's never seen anything like it before, so he wants to examine it. ]

You mean this was more than some hunk of junk? Looks like it could be pretty big, if we dug it out.

[kharans]

[ Three more questions and Boney yet again has to choose which one to answer and which words to use so that it's fewest. Humans, man. Humans. Luckily Bull supplies the easiest thing to reply to when he steps towards the robot's hull. ]

Do not touch. It will wake. [ It's the fastest The Last has ever addressed them, and even turns its body to face Bull in regular-time instead of hulking and slow. It has no visible neck so it needs to swivel its entire torso to accomplish the feat. ]

[ex_bossily211]

[Hearing that, Clara decides to step forward and make her way over toward Bull. She's tiny enough compared to him she's not going to actually be able to stop him, but she still reaches out to try and touch at him and get him to stop.]

Careful. We can't let it wake. Specially not if it's what caused what I saw in those visions.

[She glances back at Boney, restating a question that's already been asked.]

Is it what caused the destruction of those planets? It's important that we know.

[ex_broach530]

[ Bull lets Clara take his wrist. He does maybe cast one curiously longing look towards the thing but — no, okay, he's not the proverbial bull in the china shop, despite the name. If nothing else this is the first good source of information they've had, and he doesn't want to interrupt the Q&A by arousing something potentially dangerous. ]

Yeah, yeah, got it. No touching.

[exorion]

[Cayde, for once, is quiet. He's kinda getting the idea that The Last doesn't care for a million questions-- less than most people. He wanders around the chamber instead, looking at all the things he really wants to touch. Trying to see if there's anything useful; any kind of information or... Something. Maybe a diagram or a map or a notepad and pen he can steal.]