Turn 3
The fight in District 8 continues as Cresceele comes to the aide of Gibeele! The two eel twins face off against the ethereal vacuum god, []. Wasting no time, the twins agree that fleeing from the superior firepower of [] gave them their best chance of survival. Cresceele casts a blessing of speed upon themselves as well as Gibeele as [] moved in for another attack. The blessing was a fast option, but even so to swing a sword is faster. The blade swings forward and cuts at Gibeele. Though [] has no distinct features, looking upon their form it was clear they intended to finish what they started. To any of the onlookers who had cowered nearby during the begining of the fight, this featureless creature seemed cold and methodological, the standard signs of anger or pain missing upon the god's face. Whether this reflect's the god's true emotions or not, only [] could say.
[] struck at Gibeele as Cresceele cast the blessing of speed, the blade slicing through the air, creating a vacuum behind it as it devoured the atmosphere in it's path. It sliced through air, then flesh, then bone, and then flesh once more before returning to the air. The blade has sliced off one of Gibeele's many human limbs, sending the arm flying through the air, splattering more ichor over the area. As gravely injured as Gibeele is at this point, one limb lost certainly does not help his situation, but it is not so drastic as to change his near death state, into one of death. Cresceele had completed the blessing at the same time Gibeele was struck, and with it Gibeele was able to widen the gap between them, throwing his black goop off his body in a kind of sticky smokescreen to aid in their escape. Blessed with even greater speeds than the god's already posses, they flee the area.
When it was clear that giving chase without similar speed enhancement, [] departed towards District 6 to search for {}. They had been tossed quite a long way, though the shadow was without true weight. [] traced them their path across the district and eventually located the being. It had landed against a large outcropping of stone, near the border to District 7. There [] found {}'s remains, a single solid pearl of pure shadow.
After being injured in the fight, {} lost it's form's cohesion and it's soul spread out into shadows across the refugium. There the segments regain strength slowly, guided only by instinct to regain strength and return to a whole. In time, a new shadow pearl will form and the shadow segments will swarm around it to reform {}. Based on the injuries, they should reform in two turns.
Nearby in District 8, Nobody created the first "dungeon" of the Refugium, the Bastion. It was a complex structure, filled with many rooms and strange passageways. Many tubes with rope web siding were used as vertical passageways. Here much of the space is empty, large rooms whos nature is yet to be decided, while other parts of the dungeon are furnished with the everyday needs of residents, from bedchambers to dining halls. Though the facility was not without industry, the basement level had many rooms for the work of all kinds of craftsmen, as well as areas designated for farming. Here the greatest number of the Bastion's intangible servants were housed, completing their tasks quietly and efficiently. And across all places, not a single shadow appeared, even where one might think to find one cast. The entire place was lit with a shadowless light, and no darkness may exist in this place.
Bastion Sublocation added to District 8Nobody then departed to explore District 5. This time they concentrated their efforts on the mechanical graveyard that they discovered previously. The scrap yard seemed to be the dumping grounds for several large sections of machines, outdated or replaced machinery of long forgotten districts or perhaps early iterations of the current districts. Numerous large wrecks of varying condition spot the dark landscape here, tossed out into the uninhabited barrens beyond the city proper. Some stretch on for half a mile or more, while others are bulky or tall, each seeming to have odd design choices and strange functions. Each one is massive, surrounded by piles of other smaller discarded creations. Time has not been kind to these machines, and in many cases its clear why they were discarded. Some are partially melted, their components fusing together into a mocking imitation of it's former self. Others have large holes and burn marks, likely from explosions. Damage of this scale was the norm. It seems over time other garbage had been discarded here, stones and debris, broken objects, bones, and other objects litter the area in loose scattered piles. Even partial buildings, demolished remains broken into large chunks, have been deposited here. Anything that could have disintegrated due to the passage of time has already done so, leaving behind only the hard durable elements, fossils of an older age. Though these machines were in ruins, their original functions likely unknowable without a great deal of effort, some components seem salvageable. Scattered throughout the area, grime covered silver monoliths can be observed, they seem to be some sort of archaic interface written in the language of the old gods, "Mechanism Recovery Unit:.
Ancient Mechanism Deposit discovered in Mechanical Graveyard sublocation of District 5.Ancient Mechanisms are a unique action currency. Two can be purchased from a Mechanism Recovery Unit for 1 act. When you spend an act on purchasing Ancient Mechanisms, you receive two random Ancient Mechanisms chosen from four categories: Warfare, Industrial, Biological, or Civil. Ancient Mechanisms can be added onto other creations to integrate their effect into that creation. This service can be used from almost any location.
Soon after Nobody departed to explore District 5, the puppeteer angels began investigating the bright Bastion. Many of the nearby individuals who had witnessed the conflict of the gods fled here and an infirmary is set up near the main entrance. One crab appeared to be the leader, a larger than average female formally named Foundation Which Walks, but referred to as Fouw. (Footnote 1). She was going to and from each of the injured and closing their wounds with a strange metal spike, gently sliding the sharp pin into the wound, only to have it close up in minutes. Within hours, most were left with dull aches where their wounds had been, and a great deal of pinsized holes. Yet for most, this small prick was nothing in comparison, and many saw it as a miracle. Others had begun arriving now as well, drawn to the light. Approximately 150 individuals took shelter here, most if not all were those captured by {}. Soon they began to explore, looking through the holes and passages, examining the rooms and finding much of the place to be furnished but uninhabited. Others marveled at the rooms which worked on their own, watching as ropes formed themselves from moss grown by an invisible force in another room. Many were delighted at the facility, but it there was no question it was the work of the gods, as many had seen Nobody earlier, matching their visage to the gold statue of the same visage located in the Bastion. Quickly a divide in the crabfolk was made clear. Some believed they should shelter here, but others insisted they did not know these gods, and what they did know was terrifying. Yet Fouw pointed out that the healing instrument she used was a gift from the gods as well. It was uneasy, but the number who did not trust the magics of the gods were too few to hope to survive on their own. They collectively formed a disgruntled group within the budding society. The crab angels who now began referring to themselves as a collective as Having Seen Wrath, Those Who Have Seen Wrath, or the Seen Tribe, agreed to stay here for the time being. Fouw was nominated as leader, and many agreed, the support for Fouw making up a large swath of the population. Quickly, guards were assigned watches. Those selected seem to grow in size slowly, not noticeable at first, but very soon the guards were distinctly larger than the rest of the population. Supplies were collected and stockpiled. Quickly the fearful Seen Tribe did what little it could to defend itself from the gods.
Seen Tribe established in the 8th DistrictIn District 4, the culture of the Puppeteer Angels progressed very differently. Unlike their brethren in the eighth district, these Angels were not so swiftly exposed to the strength of the gods. For them, the world was as mysterious now as it was when they appeared here. Wonder and curiosity spurred these mortals, having explored much, they found only themselves and ruins built by something else. After a while of this however, Belyom appeared with a large number of strange and unusual creatures. They recognized that the creatures could make for good hosts. Quickly Belyom was thanked as the bringer of bodies, and the Angels questioned them much about this place. They asked what it was, where it was, who built it. They asked of themselves and of Belyom. It seems that in a world without context, they had developed a sense of curiosity since their creation. Yet others were less curious and less concerned with questions of what kind of world this is. They were more interested in the chimeras, and quickly the hunt to gain hosts began. Within hours, their society had changed completely. Whereas before, all were about equal, now one who was clever or strong could acquire a good host. A pecking order quickly appeared, with those who had slain stronger beasts and acquired them as hosts sitting atop the power hierarchy. While those with weaker hosts quickly fell in standing. Quickly tribes began to form around those who had proven their ability. Yet others did not care for the tribal collectives, and chose solitary lives living as their host would, wandering the area and living off the land. They hunted what other chimeras they could find, occasionally crossing paths with others of their kind. Yet those who joined tribes found their lives very similar, spent roaming the many stagnant pools of this area in search of chimeras to hunt. Their lives were simple and nomadic, as there was no base to the food chain, much of their time was spent searching for chimeras who had gone into hibernation, for they made easy prey in these barren conditions.
As their lives become harder, and food scarcer, the dependance on the strongest grew and grew. They were raised up as leaders and heroes, with a powerful form being the ultimate determinator of standing in society. It was in this way that the angels came to respect Belyom. In the oral mythos of many tribes, Belyom was the mother of the chimeras, having birthed them from their mechanical womb. In these stories Belyom is revered as a bringer of strength, the source from which all strength flows and it’s ultimate incarnation. In these trying times, many turned to Belyom so that they could become strong enough to survive in this barren wasteland. Others believed Belyom had slain the mother of the chimeras, and dismissed any caring or parental aspects, instead viewing Belyom as a powerful warrior. In these stories, Belyom slayed an aspect of death, hunger, and brought food and bodies to the angels as the spoils of war. Yet this has caused death to view the angels’s unfavorably, and now seeks them out to gain revenge on Belyom by giving the angel’s misfortune. In these mythos, Belyom isn’t blamed for this, and death is characterized as evil and petty. This has caused several individuals to seek out long lived chimera hosts, though the vast majority attempt to gain strong bodies (not always successfully)
Several Puppeteer Angel Tribes established in the 4th District. Belyom gains 1 Act income. Fungal Chimeras spread to the 4th District. Feral Angels spread to the 4th District. (All still in decline due to lack of food, there's no base to the foodchain here.)Elsewhere, in district 1, Absolute created a very different kind of mortals. Unlike the crablike and somewhat alien Angels, the Corals had a more traditional angelic look, having large white wings and some avian features. These humanoids were gifted with flight, using their large black eyes to spot sources of light in the darkness. They quickly came to inhabit district 1, going through the various relatively intact buildings. Here, they found many remnants of civilization. Pillars of carved stone, worn with age, but still beautiful in their craftsmanship, could be seen on many of the buildings here as Absolute wandered. The Chorals flying around them as they explored, them exploring likewise. While there was much of mundane interest, ancient houses and what remained in them, Absolute found something a bit more interesting. One of the larger buildings had a large circular amphitheater with a raised platform in the center. This room was sheltered by 40 foot tall stone doors, opened by Absolute. Perhaps at one point it was a hall of debate or discussion used by the rulers of this strange place. Given the strange writings on the walls, and the hundreds of available seats on the stone bleachers, perhaps it was more related to justice and may have been a place of public execution. Yet now, the chorals came to nest here, the acoustics of the spacious room making it delightful for the songbird-like mortals. Their songs grew loud and powerful, and soon an organization developed to coordinate songs with over a thousand of the birdfolk. Their voices together resonating as a single song was impressive even to their god. Yet in time, many left this area in search of food. They had found nothing in this district, and many begin to venture outwards looking for sustenance. It was a hard time, as food was scarce. But some desperate corals were able to scavenge on dead chimeras when they could be found.
Back in District 4, Belyom began moving towards the anchor of the location. Many of the buildings here were large and functionally built, sparing only some small care for the appearance of these otherwise identical buildings. Many had been sealed closed somehow, their stone doors almost glued together, and the buildings offered no windows to the caverns. Yet one had the misfortune of a large boulder falling from the ceiling, making a large hole in one side of the facility. Belyom investigated as they walked towards the center, and as the peered into the hole, some mechanism deep inside responded to their presence. A strange gurgling noise could be heard, which grew and decreased in both volume and pitch while maintaining a steady rhythm. All around Belyom the pools began to move, each one being slightly stirred by the motion. What was once in there had long gone fetid, and an awful stench filled the area. Having seen enough, they continued their search. It wasn't until they had travelled some distance that Belyom noticed it was not the pools moving, but a huge section of the district, perhaps a square mile, was moving up and down and side to side. It seems they had some strange purpose, but what that could be was beyond knowing at this point. Soon they arrived in the center, a glowing monolith could be seen here. This was the anchor, light and slightly gold tinged, it's light glow basking the area in the cool soothing light that the gods themselves were born of. This strange mechanism was clearly not the work of the gods, having been made by the Sonorous King over thousands of years, but it's power was that of the gods. It was strange and uncomfortable to look upon, for it radiated power akin to his own, yet no life was held in that cool luminous stone.
Lastly in District 2, Thysina continued their exploration cautiously. As they moved through this district, occasional clangs of metal could be heard. Other low droning noises could also be observed in the area and as time went on, it became harder and harder to convince herself she was alone out here. Soon she started seeing signs of life, large sections of disturbed dust made by something much larger than herself. Other buildings seemed to have been pushed over, their foundations and walls remaining intact for the most part, but having broken along a line as if scored, then having force applied above to leverage the motion onto stressing the area for a clean break. Piles of debris had been stacked, much of it polished stone or metal. Yet it was among these stacks that Thysina saw something unexpected, a corpse. And while she had seen some bones and other signs of life, this body was still decomposing, flesh loosely sluffing off the white bone. A slightly shimmering chestplate could be observed on the corpse, it's metal having a faint inner glow that seemed to ripple across the surface when it moved or was touched. As for the creature, there was not many indications of what it could have been. It was roughly four feet long when laid out, but it's lower body had been removed, leaving only the protected torso and the head. Thysina removed the armor and suddenly feeling exposed, donned it herself before continuing the journey. As she approached the center, she saw something which worried her greatly. There was no anchor here. In it's place, a large rough hole had been bored into the solid stone, with boulders and buildings and gravel stacked around one side. This gave it the ominous look of a creature rising up from under the earth to swallow the anchor. And upon concentration, some credence was lent to this ominous feeling, for she could detect the anchor far, far, far below.
The language of the puppeteer angels is very interesting here. When mortals are created they are very impressionable, as they are not only intelligent, but have some innate understanding of language. But they have no experience, life just started for them. So they lean on what little experiences they have. They may see a wall and know a word for wall for example, but never having seen a volcano, they would not know to think about it. As a result, many of their names and other words come from objects they can see, or actions they can observe. Quickly a culture begins to form as they learn from their surroundings and interact with eachother. As the excitement of new existence wanes and as the number of experiences new mortals have grows, culture begins to form. The formal names are a result of this process. When the angels had language, but limited vocabulary, they began referring to eachother by physical characteristics or actions of another; Blue Claw, Long in the Stride, Talks Like Mountains. Yet, these names are occasionally long and so the names often get shortened for expediency. This often occurs more often in those you speak to more frequently, and quickly informal names become common among those you are more familiar with.
Author
Topic: Refugium of the Gods (IC) (Read 4162 times)