Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Main thread for BeckonCall's Fantasy FNB "Legacy of Atlantis" This is where the story happens... post descriptions and orders here, and they will be processed!
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Legacy of Atlantis - Beckoncall FNB - MAIN
- Thread starter Beckoncall
- Start date
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Pat
:A CAVE, SMOOTH WALLED AND ONCE PAINTED... the paint floats in little eddies of crumbs and flakes in the corners of the cave. Everything in the cave, including it's strange occupants lays half buried in a layer of sand, rough sediments, and flakes of paint and enamel.
They sit in the sediment, in three circles.... The reclaimers -- two outer circles of ten and an innter circle of five... floating above them all in the center of the circle, an Earth tear of divinity which winks on with an inner light and the Atlantean constructs begin to stir... FC513 is the first to wake - stroking his beard of mana crystals that has grown long in his extended dormancy. He scanned his memory -- and found great voids and gaps as the familiar faces of the other reclaimers began to stir as well. They were bold custodians of the Atlantean Civilization. Why were they locked away in a cave? He had no memory of the great cities he once walked and maintained, all was as much shifting shadows and dust as the sediment they were resting in. There was no idea how long they had rested.... but it was a VERY long time. FC513 calculated that little would remain of what once stood in the "Secret Sea" -- perhaps well enough none could remember what that was. But one structure would still remain... somewhere in the region was the GOLDEN GROTTO -- Seat of power of Atlantean might and magic. They must find it, claim it, maintain it... find new meaning for themselves.
Each approximately 6 feet tall, they rose from the watery dust that piled around them, and FC513 grabbed the tear of divinity from where it floated in the air.
Then -- Turbulence. The currents shifted from static and stale to flowing and living -- something had opened the cave... and with it all the sand and paint was dragged away from their feet and out into the open sea beyond the cave -- strange forms hovered in the opening to the cave... Liquidy Polypal forms had excavated them free, and the Reclaimers could see the light and colors of the shallows beyond the cave. Who disturbed their slumber? Who awakened the maintainers, perhaps the INHERITORS of great Atlantis?
The crystal men formed up behind FC513 and prepared to parley with these strange creatures that had just freed them... and prepared for the good or ill that would come of it.
Pat
is ONRAMPED! (Please wait until
Heyitsjiwon
is onramped and post your initial interaction... before you move on to declare actions and explore)
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Heyitsjiwon
:
The Mass breached the portal... a great black slick 200 tendrils long swimming with Mimics and Infesters... the freezing wind on the water above created great turbulence and titanic waves, and the water grew warmer within the depths, perhaps with the sun like a lens above and unseen thermal activity far below... the abstract patterns of different biomes yawned up and rose to greet them as they descended... The slick of the Polypals spreading into different "feelers" from the mass, perhaps instinctively choosing a spot in the shallows at the tops of the lands below... Mazes of corals and rocks, they touched bottom and the turbulence they created sent fish and other animals scattering in all directions. They descended past a Grassy Plateau to their south and settled in the junction point between three kept forests... sending serpent-like stalker fish into hiding in the fronds with the weight and distortion of their mass.
They searched out coral tubes, and yawning caves, found tiny rock deposits of various minerals clinging to the old rock, and plenty of plant and animals for easy sustenance... colorful corals of clashing color piled and flowed creating a rough and patchwork terrain -- connected by tunnels made of the skeletons of long-dead subterranean sand-tube-worms. The mass chose a point on the south side of the shallow corals and after initial posturing with the stalker-fish and consumption of numerous delectable flora and fauna (they peeled a patch of the corals almost free of all plant and animal life leaving a hole-filled skeleton of a patch of reef that made for a great initial protected home for the Polypals to slink and ooze through ... creating a home in a great "Deadbulb" in the coral and began to search out and feel along the dark ledge of the shallows with the red-topped grassy plateau that yawned below them to the south... and found a cave -- or what was a SEAL covering a cave at the base of the plateau... Though they already had a lair in the "DeadBulb" they would assess this new cave... the lead Infestor lighting the dark nooks and crannies with the Astral Tear the swarm had brought... the entire mass pulsing in waves of colors, talking with itself and relaying and re-relaying the information across the mass.
The Polyps clung to the great seal of rocks covering the cave and could feel the vacuum of still water behind it, and pulled. The Seal of the cave in the corals popped open like a finally relenting mollusk that dies being torn open... And a cloud of sand and blue sediment flew free into the living current outside the cave. When the debris and sand settled, the swarm was face to face with 25 Crystalline humanoids, shining with mana and evidence of Atlantean heritage... a fortuitous and serendipitous find indeed... Unless they were hostile??
The Polypals initially settle in a clump of stripped coral they have devoured down for sustenance... and they meet the FATHOMS of
Pat
's faction... these two factions can now meet each other, interact and explore.7 Tendrils are eaten/poisoned or otherwise lost in the initial scouting of the reef. but they have devoured a great deal of plants, coral and fish the the larger forms can adopt traits from, in particular the Stalker-fish (A serpent like shark creature that makes it's home in the kelp forests, Bladder fish (which desalinate water inside their bodies) , and Moon-Arcs -- so named for being roughly boomerang shaped with dots of bio luminescence.
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Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Elucid
:Breaking through the portal into the depths of the secret sea, they were only some moments behind the arrival of the Polypals, seeing their dark slick land in a particular part of the shallows the faction, lead by Wiuhomarch Urchadainn, decended to a safe depth from the frozen above and the dangerous unknown terrain below. Sending the hunters and the Hippocampi Elite ahead, they spiraled down past the cliffs of glowing corals and purple anemone in the shallows and the high peaks of Kelp Forest to the North and south of their area of descent onto the grassy plateau below... the depth and thickness of the neighboring kelp forests was forboding, especially to the north, where packs of hunting stalker-fish and even some large kind of shark beast was seen gliding through the creepvine cover.
While the shallows were inviting with promises of resources and plants, the schools of edible fish on the Grassy Plateaus promised more to the Pelagians... looking up to the north and south were the kelp forests, east up a high cliff into the shallows, the blue and white sands clashed with the red bloodgrass where the hunters and elites eventually converged to settle. The Hippocampi drove many a sand-shark from hiding and away from the settling zone of the Pelagians, and there was plenty of movable rock and plant life that they could build their initial dwellings on. Sea-cows drifted over the grasses as well, and the pelagians wondered what milk, meat and resources they might get from these modest-sized cetaceans as they scouted the area for the most secure place to settle.
They were posed with a choice -- great Pillars of Basalt rose high up to the level of the surrounding kelp forests in the shadow of the rise to the shallows -- these columnar structures and the broad tops would allow homes to be built all along and atop these towers giving a commanding view of the plateau below and the kelp forests nearby level to them... there was also a deep depression in the middle of the basalt towers that could just as easily once the grass and rocks were cleared be a defensible crater that was largely protected from strong currents that flowed along the rest of the plateau.
Each faction has brought with it initial food stores and building materials, but the pelagians would have to decide quickly where to apply them out in the open. The hunters perpetually patrolled and the Hippocampi cavalry constantly came to face with the sand-sharks that lured on the outskirts of all the activity... but they were easily seen by the telltale sandclouds they kicked up.
The Grassy plateaus were also hope to besides the ubiquitous blood grass, many swirling-stalked purple plants with light globe-fruit growing at the end of them... these were delicious, but relatively few growing wild. Thoughts of agriculture danced in the heads of the workers. Also, being at a low point to most of the terrain around them, there was a high potential to find caves in the great rising walls into the kelp forests and shallows above. They would have to search.
Besides the strong basalt deposits, the plateau was also bedecked here and there with great salt crystal formations, and patches of weathered-smooth iron blobs partially buried in the sand. Near the crater a small thermal vent was found which warmed the area around the crater and the towers nicely, and perhaps could be put to other uses.
A Large Shark-like creature with a bulb of prehensile eyes and a tail of twelve tentacles allowing it bursts of speed was seen in the far northwest of the grassy Plateau -- a mythical KURASALACHE -- or sea king. This was a threat that needed dealing with.
Lastly, nearby the settling point numerous holes were found into a deep dark cavern network full of jelly-like mushrooms. The "Jelly Shroom Canyons" were not explored -- and initial scouting showed black eel-like predators swimming in circles below the holes, "Fishing" for things overhead -- like larger fish... and even hunters. Luckily at the end of the day construction would be well underway, and no casualties were reported.
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Northless
:
Thoe Yashde, mantis shrimp -- EXPLODED through the portal holding the earth jewel of divinity in their clenched arm-appendaged, it's glowing energy shielded by their great mace-like boxing appendages.
Shortly behind them, almost a hundred other mantis shrimpies piled through the portal, their rainbow carapaces creating a dizzying kaleidoscope as they dove instinctively to an inviting patch of shallows... Chunks of ice floated above them, but the warm sun beamed down upon them through the various "clouds" of ice in the area where they settled. The World was so Bright! The colors so vivid, as the school swam deeper and deeper to rest in the bosom of the shallows. Every crevice a different color, the school spotted hidden caves and tunnels all about them with ease, and quickly burrowed into the sand, caves, and tubes of the shallows making their homes almost immediately.
Their own vivid colors signaled to predator and prey alike that the mantis shrimp was NOT to be trifled with, and curious packs of stalker-fish eyeballed the gangs of mantis shrimp, but nothing dared attack them. Upon hitting the shallows and digging their holes, numerous shrimpies ran into each other and embraced... they had found their new home overlooking a deep and dark glowing Kelp forest to the north, and a resplendent grassy plateau to the south. The shrimpies stuffed themselves on "bladderfish" -- which tasted oddly of fresh water, and the odd flock here and there of "Penglings" -- birds of a sort that lived on the ice floes above. Strange butterfly like Icaroids, their wings flamingly colorful as they flapped through the water searching for prey, were almost too gorgeous to try eating. Almost.
At the deepest parts of the shallows the Mantis shrimp found a complex network of caves which they could consider exploring or even moving into... it seemed bustling with spongy corals and luminescent jellies, as well as larger fish in the deeper chambers.
From the east end of the shallow region, they could survey all the deeper terrain around them... the browns and greens of the Northern Kelp forests, filled with bright creatures of various size, and to the south spreading invitingly below was a massive deeper plateau of rainbow grasses and larger fish.
Rows of colorful corals, jellies, weeds and plants filled every crevice of the shallows, some of which were very hard or substantial and inviting as construction materials.
The caves had little deposits of metals and shiny minerals that to other eyes would seem dull and mundane, but stood out greatly to the eye of the mantis shrimp.
A long red crack could be found running the middle of the shallows which spread bubbles above it -- it was a thermal vent, or crack showing geothermal activity not far beneath the surface. Heat from the vent broke up the pack ice on the surface and make the water a comfortable balmy temperature.
Far to the west another diving column of creatures swept from the portal to land in the dunes. Looked like they had neighbors, even if they were a far distance away.
Even after night fell it didn't matter to the mantis shrimp -- everything took on softer hues, cooler colors, but the shrimp still saw all. The area they settled in the shallows cleared out almost completely of fish -- wary of the shrimpies coloration, and with the departure of the fish the penglings too moved on to better hunting grounds. This left the mantis shrimp to try their hand at eating much of the flora of the shallow reefs -- something they did not take well to, but stationary animals like mollusks and anemones were still delicious finds they would likely have to cultivate to maintain a food supply. There was always good eating in the caves it would seem however, if a shrimp was bold and dedicated enough. Still, talk of cultivation of food sources was discussed as the arrival of the shrimps was already changing the biological distribution of the shallows they inhabited. Sea-cows wandered the shallows eating plants at night... and the mantis shrimp wondered if they should try to ambush some of the herds of sea-mammals that grazed their territory.
Thoe Yashde gathered all of their "people" near a collection of defensible caves and a patch of sand the smaller shrimp could dig trap pits and sleeping beds into.
Initial arrival was comfortable, safe, inviting, and colorful. Always colorful...
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Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Bone2pick
:
The Scyphon Decended from the portal in a clean and ruthless wing formation, with women in the lead and the men treading behind. A brief discussion consisting more of gesture decided where the Scyphon would make sea-fall from the portal. Behind the wing, huge "House-Jellies drifted behind them on the current they produced. Invading the deep kelp forest they'd chosen swiftly and aggressively. The Stalkers and even larger cephalopod predators relocated swiftly at the driving of the Scyphon Elite and the Outswimmers. Formations disrupted, predators aggressively matched and beaten back. The stalker-fish of the kelp forest, even large ones from the deepest zones, fled northeast to get away from the Scyphon colony area.
The House-Jellies crashed abruptly against the ocean floor, and the tendrils stretched out strengthening their super-structure and seeped deep into the ground to root themselves and delve for sustenance. With the largest jelly structures landed, they unpacked smaller house jellies, and clouds of roaming swarm-jellies -- colonizing the ecosystem and defending the Scyphon from small biting fish and other pests and predators. -- Pinks and dark blues began to spread in the kelp forest as the witches used their magic to proliferate the smaller jellies into a familiar protective area denial and camouflage. Great turtles came from the nearby shallows to feast on the jellies, but for now the proliferation was well beyond their consumption.... but perhaps something needed to be done about this.
In the darkest folds and resesses of the Kelp forest, the Scyphon had quickly established their base and many of the comforts of home. Working furiously, the males preened back and bound together the creepvines that made up the kelp forest... and in the process harvested great amounts of luminous fruit, organic waxes and rubber. On the floor of the shallower parts of the kelp bed and further into it northeast, caves were found here and there with potential for minerals and other discoveries.
But perhaps the crowning achievement of the Scyphon Enclave was it's strategic positioning against the background of a grand reef, deep below it. In the background of the enclave was a great dropoff full of alien bulbs made of hyper-photosynthetic plants, tethered to rock arches and the crags by networks of ties that seemed to struggle against the buoyancy of their glowing structures.
The witches and elites looked down onto the grand reef and saw a very dangerous biome -- strange crustaceans disguised themselves as Orb-plants... some of the Orbs convincingly looked like tethered plants, but were the eyes of truly gargantuan fish that idled in the powerful currents, waiting for any animals to drift too near. But nothing from the great reef seemed to rise to the level of the Kelp forest, as if the extremity of the daylight repelled it... one had to wonder if the shallowness of the Kelp forest would still be a deterrent when night fell... The elites held vigil, and between the swarms of new pink Scyphon Jellies and the steep topography it seemed the kelp forest was largely safe from the grand reef... but the darkness and dangers put even the outswimmers ill at ease.
Now the Crones had gathered in the center of their new home... the workers awaiting orders for further projects, more scouting and searching to be done, and restless elites who spoiled for a fight.
They would not be without directions for long...
Heyitsjiwon
One Thousand Club
The Primus stared at these beings with its eyes. They were constructs, clearly of ancient origins... perhaps Atlantian. Though that wasn't very important. What was important was that they had just arrived and the first serious potential threat to them were inorganics. They were not ready for a fight if hostilities broke out right now. Thus, the Primus spoke "Common. Do you speak it? Or any language?" as it began to change colors in odd patterns.
FC513 softly whirred as they approached the strange outsiders, putting up a hand to stop the rest of the constructs from following it any further as it came face to face with those that have disturbed them. It took minutes to decipher the meaning expressed, hidden as it was under layers of bastardized pidgin Atlantean, but they quickly found a distinctive pattern to the words. "The Atlantean Empire is of an age since passed, but so little has changed it seems." They reply. "The jewel of divinity of earth that I carry," they hold it up to the light that now flooded the cave, "awoke me shortly before your arrival."
"You are of Atlantian origin? Natives?" The Primus inquired. "We have arrived to assist in re-discovering the Empire, but these waters are foreign to us. May we count upon you as guides? Or at least, what is it that you are doing in these caves and what will you do from here forth?"
"We are not native to this land, but of the earth from which our forms were wrought and given purpose by our masters. Your request for a local guide is granted in the form of myself and five of my fellow constructs, for no other reason than our very own memories of these once familiar waters now made unknown to us with the passage of time have faded. Should it be true that the Atlantean Empire has been forever laid to waste, we will safeguard the legacy of what yet remains in this world that bears it's mark."
"You protect your legacy. While we seek to protect our kind. Understood, construct. May we both find success in our similar ventures." The Primus replied. He turned various colors and moments later the Polypals largely left the cave, off to do something else other than idle about in front of the cave. "My kind will settle in the area and explore further. Inform us if you have a request or wish to speak. I or one of my brood will shortly arrive to discuss as needed." With that the Primus took its leave as well.
---
Brown, red, red, green, silver...
The Host of Polypals clumped around the Deadbulb and changed into odd combinations of colors. It would be a temporary home for now for the swarm, but they had a lot of work to do. Suddenly the host split into multiple shoals that rapidly swam off into different directions and silence befell the coral once more.
The groups of Tendrils stuck together in shoals to maximize the ground covered while searching, but then suddenly formed a school whenever there seemed to be a predator so that they could work together and swarm any potential threats in an organized mass attack.
en.wikipedia.org
However, at the center of each shoal of tendrils were some rather odd looking Polypals, using newly adopted traits that they had obtained. The Stalker fish provided an more combat capable platform while the tentacles of the Mimics began to shine as well like a lantern fish. The Mimics would serve as the "mothership" for the shoals as they would hopefully scare away any attackers and if push came to shove, then they could fight and be the main threat/target while the Tendrils swarmed the enemies. In addition, the lack of light in deeper areas or in caves seemed to make searching, foraging, and exploring difficult. Thus, the lights of the moon arc were adopted as well to support the tendrils in their search efforts. Finally, the Bladerfish... it inflated itself with freshwater. However, what if that bladder could be suddenly expelled? Ideas floated and the Mimics took on those three traits. Then... trailing these shoals were these Constructs. They seemed... amiable so far. But, such an odd discovery was, unanticipated. The Primus thought that reporting it back to the Alliance would be ideal... a sign of good faith... thus, he himself led several tendrils to the portal along with the leader of the Constructs.
---
Orders/Summary:
1. 50 Tendrils, 10 Mimics, 2 Reclaimers continue to search the rest of the Safe Shallows in search of more artifacts and/or other potential sources of resources
2. 50 Tendrils and 1 Reclaimer work on making the Deadbulb more fitting for Polypal habitation and beef up security with some mucus (Could this lair also have a double function as a fishery? Fish and eggs that are captured are brought in here as a renewable food source? Might devastate all food sources nearby at the rate that they eat!)
3. 43 Tendrils (bringing the 7 injured as well) begin mining/start making a 2nd/backup secured lair near the cave of the Constructs / helping them get more stone to build stone constructs
4. 50 Tendrils and 10 Mimics, head back to the portal to begin constructing some cover and a "house"/base for it.
5. 20 Infesters take the form of Stalkers and in a large pack head to the Kelp Forest to the south east/east to explore the area as it seems like this is the native habitat of the Stalker and they seek to blend in. 2 Reclaimers are ready on standby in case of emergencies.
6. The Primus and FC513 go to the portal to report back to the Alliance about the existence of the Constructs/the first Atlantian artifacts discovered and introduce FC513 to the Alliance.
FC513 softly whirred as they approached the strange outsiders, putting up a hand to stop the rest of the constructs from following it any further as it came face to face with those that have disturbed them. It took minutes to decipher the meaning expressed, hidden as it was under layers of bastardized pidgin Atlantean, but they quickly found a distinctive pattern to the words. "The Atlantean Empire is of an age since passed, but so little has changed it seems." They reply. "The jewel of divinity of earth that I carry," they hold it up to the light that now flooded the cave, "awoke me shortly before your arrival."
"You are of Atlantian origin? Natives?" The Primus inquired. "We have arrived to assist in re-discovering the Empire, but these waters are foreign to us. May we count upon you as guides? Or at least, what is it that you are doing in these caves and what will you do from here forth?"
"We are not native to this land, but of the earth from which our forms were wrought and given purpose by our masters. Your request for a local guide is granted in the form of myself and five of my fellow constructs, for no other reason than our very own memories of these once familiar waters now made unknown to us with the passage of time have faded. Should it be true that the Atlantean Empire has been forever laid to waste, we will safeguard the legacy of what yet remains in this world that bears it's mark."
"You protect your legacy. While we seek to protect our kind. Understood, construct. May we both find success in our similar ventures." The Primus replied. He turned various colors and moments later the Polypals largely left the cave, off to do something else other than idle about in front of the cave. "My kind will settle in the area and explore further. Inform us if you have a request or wish to speak. I or one of my brood will shortly arrive to discuss as needed." With that the Primus took its leave as well.
---
Brown, red, red, green, silver...
The Host of Polypals clumped around the Deadbulb and changed into odd combinations of colors. It would be a temporary home for now for the swarm, but they had a lot of work to do. Suddenly the host split into multiple shoals that rapidly swam off into different directions and silence befell the coral once more.
The groups of Tendrils stuck together in shoals to maximize the ground covered while searching, but then suddenly formed a school whenever there seemed to be a predator so that they could work together and swarm any potential threats in an organized mass attack.
Shoaling and schooling - Wikipedia
However, at the center of each shoal of tendrils were some rather odd looking Polypals, using newly adopted traits that they had obtained. The Stalker fish provided an more combat capable platform while the tentacles of the Mimics began to shine as well like a lantern fish. The Mimics would serve as the "mothership" for the shoals as they would hopefully scare away any attackers and if push came to shove, then they could fight and be the main threat/target while the Tendrils swarmed the enemies. In addition, the lack of light in deeper areas or in caves seemed to make searching, foraging, and exploring difficult. Thus, the lights of the moon arc were adopted as well to support the tendrils in their search efforts. Finally, the Bladerfish... it inflated itself with freshwater. However, what if that bladder could be suddenly expelled? Ideas floated and the Mimics took on those three traits. Then... trailing these shoals were these Constructs. They seemed... amiable so far. But, such an odd discovery was, unanticipated. The Primus thought that reporting it back to the Alliance would be ideal... a sign of good faith... thus, he himself led several tendrils to the portal along with the leader of the Constructs.
---
Orders/Summary:
1. 50 Tendrils, 10 Mimics, 2 Reclaimers continue to search the rest of the Safe Shallows in search of more artifacts and/or other potential sources of resources
2. 50 Tendrils and 1 Reclaimer work on making the Deadbulb more fitting for Polypal habitation and beef up security with some mucus (Could this lair also have a double function as a fishery? Fish and eggs that are captured are brought in here as a renewable food source? Might devastate all food sources nearby at the rate that they eat!)
3. 43 Tendrils (bringing the 7 injured as well) begin mining/start making a 2nd/backup secured lair near the cave of the Constructs / helping them get more stone to build stone constructs
4. 50 Tendrils and 10 Mimics, head back to the portal to begin constructing some cover and a "house"/base for it.
5. 20 Infesters take the form of Stalkers and in a large pack head to the Kelp Forest to the south east/east to explore the area as it seems like this is the native habitat of the Stalker and they seek to blend in. 2 Reclaimers are ready on standby in case of emergencies.
6. The Primus and FC513 go to the portal to report back to the Alliance about the existence of the Constructs/the first Atlantian artifacts discovered and introduce FC513 to the Alliance.
Pat
Three Thousand Club
After their conversation with the leader of the organics that unearthed them, FC513 silently contemplated what was to come. They went to order most of their remaining idling constructs to begin the necessary work of removing loose sand and sediments from the cave to unearth anything that they may have missed, deftly collecting for immediate preservation any remnants of the paint and enamel that had once adorned the smooth yet weathered walls that they had been awakened within, and determining what sort of magic was used to seal the entrance after they personally noted to themselves that the strange cave-in was intentional. Eventually, they knew that the reason for their confinement would be made apparent to them all only if they were patient enough to wait for the answer. Someone went to great lengths to protect twenty-six constructs from the ending of an age, a creation cycle, and the large deteriorated cave painting itself. There wasn't a doubt in their mind that the message it beared could ever be anything else other than a warning to those that would come after... Once their initial efforts and investigation concluded, they could finally begin to uncover details that plagued their restless minds.
1. Five reclaimers and FC513 himself serve as local guides to their new foreign allies, assisting them in their endeavors as they find themselves able to.
2. Fifteen reclaimers remove loose materials from the cave, collect paint samples, figure out the spell that was used to seal them away, and begin to transcribe what they believe to be the cave painting based on pattern analysis onto stone tablets. They investigate remnants of the cave painting to see if it referenced them or the earth jewel of divinity that they were given, and if there was a reason why they were placed in a sitting position in three circles around the center of the cave other than the earth jewel of divinity that they had in their possession.
3. The remaining five reclaimers begin to gather mana crystals protrusions from everyone except FC513 to use as cataclysts to then animate stone golems they carve from rock. Given ample help by the fifty 'tendrils' that collected materials for them, they make as many five foot constructs in their image as possible. They would need them in the days to come, at least that much was for certain.
Orders
1. Five reclaimers and FC513 himself serve as local guides to their new foreign allies, assisting them in their endeavors as they find themselves able to.
2. Fifteen reclaimers remove loose materials from the cave, collect paint samples, figure out the spell that was used to seal them away, and begin to transcribe what they believe to be the cave painting based on pattern analysis onto stone tablets. They investigate remnants of the cave painting to see if it referenced them or the earth jewel of divinity that they were given, and if there was a reason why they were placed in a sitting position in three circles around the center of the cave other than the earth jewel of divinity that they had in their possession.
3. The remaining five reclaimers begin to gather mana crystals protrusions from everyone except FC513 to use as cataclysts to then animate stone golems they carve from rock. Given ample help by the fifty 'tendrils' that collected materials for them, they make as many five foot constructs in their image as possible. They would need them in the days to come, at least that much was for certain.
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Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Heyitsjiwon
Pat
The first swarm of Tendrils, mimics and two reclaimers sought out resources... canvassing a fair distance to the east and west -- they found tiny pieces of limestone and sandstone hither and thither on the reefs of the shallows and on the inside of tubeworm skeletons, getting better at gathering as they looked. From small deposits, they raked together 1 unit of titanium and found a large Deposit of lead that seemed to grow or rise out of the ground like some kind of cracked flower. In the caves small jellies and thorny plants blocked the masses way, until they were wholesaley devoured and dealt with. Inside one cave a minable deposit of Purphorite was found -- a deep blue and purple-veined mineral that burned brightly even underwater and could sustain extremely high temperatures in concentration -- the Polypals found the deposit but it was through the lore of the reclaimers that the name of the substance and it's possible applications for extreme heat and light could be found... Purphorite was also a very soft mineral that could be worked easily. In addition to this find, The Swarm located to the west patch of Cadhochrysotile -- a mineral made up of dead animal skeletons apart from coral that could be quarried in seemingly random patches. Cadhochrysotile, combined with the swarm's mucus -- would make even better composites than the Polypal could make quickly and easily with sand -- but it would take labor and strength to get the solid layers of the substance into sediment suitable for construction.
Though the Swarm was well sated after devouring all life from the "Deadbulb" thoughts had shifted to making food production more sustainable. The swarm would no longer "PEEL" the coral of all life but instead they built spherical structures over the deadbulb and in a network around it -- bringing vast amounts of fish eggs and smaller fish into the spheres to raise as a food source. The structures, made of quickly solidified mucus and sand stood out ominously amid the shallow reefs, It was yet to be seen if the fish farms would pan out -- more labor and attention was required -- the Reclaimer was slow to recall different species of fish, but was able to stratify which would raise in proximity to one another and which would eat each others eggs. The partnership between the Polyps and the Reclaimer Fathoms was already seeing dividends -- and promise for tomorrows.
The third swarm-mass remained near the cave of the Fathom Reclaimers and mined stone using harder pieces of coral and metals that they could find laying around -- they would need to make tools... but for now the swarm quarried a great heap of rocks and what they did not quarry they cobbled together from sediments and their own mucus to make strong sedimentary materials. The Constructs gain 5 units of stone from the quarrying which they would it was thought use to produce smaller servitor constructs to do work for them. Producing 10 5-foot stone constructs that could follow simple instructions. It took a substantial amount of their mana crystals to animate the small force of golems, but it was thought that at least 20 or 30 could be maintained at any given time if they continued to harvest rock and spend mana... if they cared to spend it. Finally, this swarm mass made a mucus and sand wall to cover the area they were slowly quarrying out... protecting the miners and making more safe haven as they chipped away at the stone. This group of Tendrils got very tired working without tools, and soon took to resting in the concave depression they had covered in the stone...
The fourth mass swam back for the surface carrying clouds of sand wrapped in mucus to make a House/Base for the great portal all the factions had been emerging from recently. Light swaying clouds of gooey slime joined sheets of sandy composite which they attached to floating blocks of ice at the surface, giving the structure stability and buoyancy. It was an unattractive structure, again were they to have had tools they could have made cleaner lines and more shapely curves -- but the portal was covered and protected... for whatever that was worth. It now rested in a floating chamber, it's blue and green light reflecting off the walls of the structure as it hovered over a hole in the bottom.
Once the structure was completed, the Primus, using some of FC513's mana supply -- contacted the New Atlantean Alliance through the portal and reported their status and findings of a number of seemingly atlantean constructs in working order. The NAA agents on the other side were overwhelmed with excitement: "It is paramount that you secure a powerful and sustainable node of mana that may allow us to send matter back through the portal -- we NEED at least five of those constructs for study and for application at other NAA archaeological sites. I repeat -- Priority one is to secure mana source of volume and power to send constructs to us back through the portal." -- The Primus was certain FC513 would not be enthused at the idea of any, much less many of his people being traded through the portal like chattel... but the orders stood.
The fifth and last mass of Infesters take on the aspects of stalker-fish which do nothing to convince the stalker fish -- but do instead give the Infesters quite the advantage in killing and devouring any stalkers large or canny enough to confront the mass. The infesters drive the stalkers ahead of them with little exception -- until they learn that a very uncommonly large stalker fish is shadowing THEM. While searching the Kelp forest and the rock formations around it they locate the Lair of the "Super Stalker" -- it making it's home in a pile of sandstone and limestone boulders at the foot of the deepest mass of kelp fronds -- mineral wealth was likely to be found breaking apart that lair -- if the Infesters were willing to confront the "Super-Stalker" -- which for now followed lazily behind the mass and bided it's time for an opportunity that was not likely to come, aware as the mass was. During the Trip to the Kelp forests many fat nutritious kelp seeds were found in at the base of the ripest of the vines... as well as an ample supply of waxy bioluminescent fruit that while not very palatable, was quickly obvious to the assessor a great supply of rubber and lubricant.
Pat
The constructs that remained in the cave worked hard trying to unravel the remaining threads of spell that once powerfully sealed them inside the cave, now nearly fully faded away. It was a ward of protection, and a strong one. They were not likely prisoners, but protected and valued judging by the spell that kept them safe all this time. The constructs cleaned all of the foreign sediments out of the cave and began to analyze the enamel and paint that fell away from the walls around them. It crushed them to learn that a great section of a huge mural was now a ruined mass of chips of runes they could no longer recognize -- detailed instructions for some task they were supposed to carry out. Secondly they learned that the seal on their chamber had been broken early -- that they were not supposed to wake up, nor the gem of earth to activate, for another 200-300 years. What was easiest to piece together was ruinous fragments of a scaled arm pointing at the circles of constructs, another hand obscuring them from the sun. They served something great and powerful before, something that stole their memories or had let, through accident or design, their memories to atrophy. It was determined much more could be learned from the Mural being reformed if the constructs could find out how to make their own analogues of enamel and paint to fill in the blanks in the puzzle, and to re-learn the ancient runes of Old Atlantis. For now, the cave had given up all of it's secrets that could be gleaned, with only 10% of the mural making any sense at all.
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Northless
Alive? Alive.
Having found a place bustling with such energy, preparations to become part of the ecosystem, initial bloodthirst satiated, were made in no time. The swarm of shrimps quickly separated in three big groups; Those that would venture inside the caverns on the deeper parts of the shallows, those that would stay and try to cultivate more food, and the ones on stand-by until an aquatic mammal passed by, immobile like rocks hidden in the deep sand.
1) 10 unskilled workers, 5 skilled workers and 5 warriors with gear to explore the caves' network for recognition of the place (housing, creatures that live there, etc) and 10 unskilled workers and 5 skilled workers to substract minerals from the cavern.
2) 20 unskilled workers 10 skilled workers to begin preparations to cultivate mollusks and anemone, along with any other stationary animal found.
3) 12 mace punch warriors and 10 skilled warriors with gear would prepare to ambush some of the sea cows that wandered the shallows, far enough from the settlement to not totally scare the prey off of the zone. Hopefully.
4) 10 ''mace punch'' warriors would swim through the shallows to the west, looking for other prey that might have stayed... and take a look at their new neighbor's home.
Thoe swam around the settlement, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed like a threat... Being met instead with a wonder of light and colors that don't reach the bottom of the sea. She looked over the small jewel on her claw, wondering if there might be anyone around who would know how these even worked, when she heard a buzzing sound.
-Interaction with
Heyitsjiwon
A lone tendril sailed and cut through the water towards the northwest. It suddenly saw a wave of color in the distance and swam towards it. As the Tendril quickly swam, the Mantis Shrimp would hear a quiet sound "hiiiii" that slowly got louder and louder "iiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" until the Tendril suddenly stopped right in front of them. "Hi! I am the Mouth of the Polypal! Call me Mouth! The Primus... ahh... what did he want again... hmm. Give me a second..." It began to hum, ponder, and quickly change colors as it thought. "OH YEA! He wanted to see if you would come and look at the paintings!"
After a day of successful hunting, the shrimps were more inclined to look at the tendril curiously instead of devouring it at first sight. Thoe got to the place when it began to rapidly change colors, going from pleasing, to awful, to wonderful colors in the span of seconds. She hadn't seen anything like that in a long time. When it seemed to have ended its request, Thoe tried to talk to it in common, while signaling to the others to make sure other of those creatures weren't lurking the area ''Paintings?''
"Cave Paintings! Very old! A lot of the colors are gone, but maybe not to you!"
Thoe looked back at their new settlement in the shallows, and regarded the small messenger in front of them ''This place is really colorful... I pity you can't see that as well. Two of us will go and look at the paintings. If we don't come back, my kind won't forgive yours, this era or the next. Understood?''
"Yay! I did it! I'll go tell the Primus! Have a nice day, Rainbow Shrimp Lady! Baiiiii" With that, the Mouth zipped back to the South East, back to its kind. "iiiii...."
The shrimps were very confused. Whatever this was, it didn't seem to fear them, but it didn't look like it could do much on it's own, and it did come alone to talk. Maybe it was as straightforward a deal as it seemed. Thoe tried to keep up with the small tendril's pace, one of the warriors falling in line behind her.
5) Thoe and one (1) mace punch warrior will visit the polypal's (
Heyitsjiwon
) habitat to take a look at the paintings.
1) 10 unskilled workers, 5 skilled workers and 5 warriors with gear to explore the caves' network for recognition of the place (housing, creatures that live there, etc) and 10 unskilled workers and 5 skilled workers to substract minerals from the cavern.
2) 20 unskilled workers 10 skilled workers to begin preparations to cultivate mollusks and anemone, along with any other stationary animal found.
3) 12 mace punch warriors and 10 skilled warriors with gear would prepare to ambush some of the sea cows that wandered the shallows, far enough from the settlement to not totally scare the prey off of the zone. Hopefully.
4) 10 ''mace punch'' warriors would swim through the shallows to the west, looking for other prey that might have stayed... and take a look at their new neighbor's home.
Thoe swam around the settlement, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed like a threat... Being met instead with a wonder of light and colors that don't reach the bottom of the sea. She looked over the small jewel on her claw, wondering if there might be anyone around who would know how these even worked, when she heard a buzzing sound.
-Interaction with
Heyitsjiwon
A lone tendril sailed and cut through the water towards the northwest. It suddenly saw a wave of color in the distance and swam towards it. As the Tendril quickly swam, the Mantis Shrimp would hear a quiet sound "hiiiii" that slowly got louder and louder "iiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" until the Tendril suddenly stopped right in front of them. "Hi! I am the Mouth of the Polypal! Call me Mouth! The Primus... ahh... what did he want again... hmm. Give me a second..." It began to hum, ponder, and quickly change colors as it thought. "OH YEA! He wanted to see if you would come and look at the paintings!"
After a day of successful hunting, the shrimps were more inclined to look at the tendril curiously instead of devouring it at first sight. Thoe got to the place when it began to rapidly change colors, going from pleasing, to awful, to wonderful colors in the span of seconds. She hadn't seen anything like that in a long time. When it seemed to have ended its request, Thoe tried to talk to it in common, while signaling to the others to make sure other of those creatures weren't lurking the area ''Paintings?''
"Cave Paintings! Very old! A lot of the colors are gone, but maybe not to you!"
Thoe looked back at their new settlement in the shallows, and regarded the small messenger in front of them ''This place is really colorful... I pity you can't see that as well. Two of us will go and look at the paintings. If we don't come back, my kind won't forgive yours, this era or the next. Understood?''
"Yay! I did it! I'll go tell the Primus! Have a nice day, Rainbow Shrimp Lady! Baiiiii" With that, the Mouth zipped back to the South East, back to its kind. "iiiii...."
The shrimps were very confused. Whatever this was, it didn't seem to fear them, but it didn't look like it could do much on it's own, and it did come alone to talk. Maybe it was as straightforward a deal as it seemed. Thoe tried to keep up with the small tendril's pace, one of the warriors falling in line behind her.
5) Thoe and one (1) mace punch warrior will visit the polypal's (
Heyitsjiwon
) habitat to take a look at the paintings.
Pat
Three Thousand Club
"It is paramount that you secure a powerful and sustainable node of mana that may allow us to send matter back through the portal -- we NEED at least five of those constructs for study and for application at other NAA archaeological sites. I repeat -- Priority one is to secure mana source of volume and power to send constructs to us back through the portal." The New Atlantean Alliance member's voice seemed to distort while passing through the portal, but it was easily enough understood.
"We are sentient, and worthy of your respect." FC513 informed. "Speak of us as such, or expect to be shown disregard if not hostility on further interactions. Is that understood? Your terms can be met, provided we are officially recognized as equals, and there is appropriate incentive given to do as you request, provided we are given five hostages to guarantee their eventual safe return."
"Are you there, Primus? Are you subject to terms from these inanimates?"
"The lead Construct seeks to inform that Alliance that it is very much sentient and demands to be treated equal as any living being that the Alliance may encounter. Furthermore, it is not willing to slave away without proper compensation and five political hostages to ensure the safety and return of their own. It would be prudent for the Alliance to directly communicate with the Construct known as FC513."
"This is nonsense. We have encountered these things in the past. they are full of dead thoughts and incomplete plans. We shall send you a device to clear them of consciousness and to take control. Received?"
"I assure you that they have never had thoughts such as mine, unless you have destroyed those that shared the same capacity for thought that you possess. If you are skeptical, send someone to test our intelligence to determine if we are truly sentient as we claim."
"Dead thoughts? Seems rather lively to me. Anyways, I'm just the messenger. If the Alliance seeks to anger and start a fight with the Constructs, then be my guest. The Polypals see no benefit to antagonizing the Constructs and would rather focus on important matters like discovering the Grotto."
"Primus -- we will be unable to send additional agents through the portal at this time to conduct tests. We are leaving discretion with your faction -- these things are a considerable find already, and can be used to repair flesh and in many cases restore artifacts of the lost age. Prepare to receive the Atlantean Shackling device -- it has little power but should suffice for at least a small number of these constructs. There will be NO exchange of hostages. Work with them if you can -- if you cannot -- use the instrument to bring them to delete their personalities and make them compliant and leave the rest you cannot change until further instructed." A black-egg like device is sent through the portal, which floats into the grasp of the Primus.
FC513 holds out his hand to the 'Primus', expecting to be given the device.
"Before we go, I would like to suggest that my reasonable demands in exchange for my help, can improve progress at archaeological sites significantly. You yourself apparently suggested that finding constructs such as we in working order was cause for excitement and would be a priority in sending through the portal. Reconsider my offer. Even if you believe my requests to be the delusions of a broken machine, surely you must recognize playing along would be considerable benefit at the moment."
"The situation is left in your discretion, Primus. Perhaps this arrangement can be revisted. for now, keep the Shackling device in case it is needed to protect yourself from the Legacies of Atlantis."
The Primus yawned from its multiple mouths "My discretion? Very well, I assure you that the alliance will not be disappointed in the end." as the Egg floated into his tentacles. He casually eyed it, but he wasn't a mage or an artificer. Though, it's abilities were... interesting to the Primus. It clearly had some mind controlling abilities, although it seemed to only apply to Constructs... or did it? "Over and out." Primus cut the connection and said. "Ahh, only if I knew some magic to examine and study such a device. Learning a bit about mind control like the Aboleths would be interesting. But, perhaps, it has other uses. Do not worry Construct. I have no reason nor really benefit from trying to use it against you. It will remain out of sight and not brought near you."
"Unlike you, I can study it and perhaps restore or uncover lost functionalities. The findings, if not as inappropriately offensive as the intention your superiors had for it, will be shared. Give it to me, and I will even arrange for it to always be kept close to your side if the device is ever needed."
"I also have no reason to antagonize the Alliance and if something were to happen and they discover I handed the device over so easily. Well, I think you're a bright enough rock to know what would happen. The device will sit in the center of the Deadbulb. Feel free to visit and study it if you wish."
"There is no one but our two peoples to inform them of any transfer, but very well, Primus. Let it's mysteries remain so just to placate those who would never learn of such an act before we give them their desired results that outweigh any insubordination on your part. I apologize, for whoever is at the other end of this portal has vexed me, but I do question if your honor would allow me to keep such an item too were our situations reversed..."
"Honor? Honor doesn't feed the maws of the swarm. Regardless, if you ever are curious about the device and find yourself not so wary and fearful, then you will know exactly where it can be found."
"My desire for it is nothing more than another abstract concept I possess that you likely also do not care for. Principles. It does not matter what it is, but what the device has done, and what it was intended to do. Nonetheless, we both have more pressing matters to attend to. Shall we?" The construct suggested, beginning to move in the direction of their homes.
The Primus' maws opened into toothy, wickedly sharp smiles. "Yes, let us move and work towards the future as we should and not the past."
"We are sentient, and worthy of your respect." FC513 informed. "Speak of us as such, or expect to be shown disregard if not hostility on further interactions. Is that understood? Your terms can be met, provided we are officially recognized as equals, and there is appropriate incentive given to do as you request, provided we are given five hostages to guarantee their eventual safe return."
"Are you there, Primus? Are you subject to terms from these inanimates?"
"The lead Construct seeks to inform that Alliance that it is very much sentient and demands to be treated equal as any living being that the Alliance may encounter. Furthermore, it is not willing to slave away without proper compensation and five political hostages to ensure the safety and return of their own. It would be prudent for the Alliance to directly communicate with the Construct known as FC513."
"This is nonsense. We have encountered these things in the past. they are full of dead thoughts and incomplete plans. We shall send you a device to clear them of consciousness and to take control. Received?"
"I assure you that they have never had thoughts such as mine, unless you have destroyed those that shared the same capacity for thought that you possess. If you are skeptical, send someone to test our intelligence to determine if we are truly sentient as we claim."
"Dead thoughts? Seems rather lively to me. Anyways, I'm just the messenger. If the Alliance seeks to anger and start a fight with the Constructs, then be my guest. The Polypals see no benefit to antagonizing the Constructs and would rather focus on important matters like discovering the Grotto."
"Primus -- we will be unable to send additional agents through the portal at this time to conduct tests. We are leaving discretion with your faction -- these things are a considerable find already, and can be used to repair flesh and in many cases restore artifacts of the lost age. Prepare to receive the Atlantean Shackling device -- it has little power but should suffice for at least a small number of these constructs. There will be NO exchange of hostages. Work with them if you can -- if you cannot -- use the instrument to bring them to delete their personalities and make them compliant and leave the rest you cannot change until further instructed." A black-egg like device is sent through the portal, which floats into the grasp of the Primus.
FC513 holds out his hand to the 'Primus', expecting to be given the device.
"Before we go, I would like to suggest that my reasonable demands in exchange for my help, can improve progress at archaeological sites significantly. You yourself apparently suggested that finding constructs such as we in working order was cause for excitement and would be a priority in sending through the portal. Reconsider my offer. Even if you believe my requests to be the delusions of a broken machine, surely you must recognize playing along would be considerable benefit at the moment."
"The situation is left in your discretion, Primus. Perhaps this arrangement can be revisted. for now, keep the Shackling device in case it is needed to protect yourself from the Legacies of Atlantis."
The Primus yawned from its multiple mouths "My discretion? Very well, I assure you that the alliance will not be disappointed in the end." as the Egg floated into his tentacles. He casually eyed it, but he wasn't a mage or an artificer. Though, it's abilities were... interesting to the Primus. It clearly had some mind controlling abilities, although it seemed to only apply to Constructs... or did it? "Over and out." Primus cut the connection and said. "Ahh, only if I knew some magic to examine and study such a device. Learning a bit about mind control like the Aboleths would be interesting. But, perhaps, it has other uses. Do not worry Construct. I have no reason nor really benefit from trying to use it against you. It will remain out of sight and not brought near you."
"Unlike you, I can study it and perhaps restore or uncover lost functionalities. The findings, if not as inappropriately offensive as the intention your superiors had for it, will be shared. Give it to me, and I will even arrange for it to always be kept close to your side if the device is ever needed."
"I also have no reason to antagonize the Alliance and if something were to happen and they discover I handed the device over so easily. Well, I think you're a bright enough rock to know what would happen. The device will sit in the center of the Deadbulb. Feel free to visit and study it if you wish."
"There is no one but our two peoples to inform them of any transfer, but very well, Primus. Let it's mysteries remain so just to placate those who would never learn of such an act before we give them their desired results that outweigh any insubordination on your part. I apologize, for whoever is at the other end of this portal has vexed me, but I do question if your honor would allow me to keep such an item too were our situations reversed..."
"Honor? Honor doesn't feed the maws of the swarm. Regardless, if you ever are curious about the device and find yourself not so wary and fearful, then you will know exactly where it can be found."
"My desire for it is nothing more than another abstract concept I possess that you likely also do not care for. Principles. It does not matter what it is, but what the device has done, and what it was intended to do. Nonetheless, we both have more pressing matters to attend to. Shall we?" The construct suggested, beginning to move in the direction of their homes.
The Primus' maws opened into toothy, wickedly sharp smiles. "Yes, let us move and work towards the future as we should and not the past."
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Pat
Three Thousand Club
There were instructions for them to carry out. They were hidden from the eyes of the gods, so that they alone could be spared from the end of an age, far into the next creation cycle, to see perhaps the last will of their masters fulfilled. FC513, slowly tearing themselves away from the mural they wished to do nothing more with but cherish for the rest of their short existence, ordered the constructs under their charge to chisel their Atlantean serial numbers onto stone tablets, and to also transcribe onto them every single memory that they possessed, that will be further sorted into several categories of usefulness. Alone their stories and knowledge of the past was fragmented, but together... They may be able to forge a reliable narrative, or at least partially revive a dead alphabet and numerical system so that the chips that bore runes could begin to be reassembled in the correct order. They had no doubts in their mind that if anyone could achieve the understanding necessary to read the relevations in their grasp, that they, creations of the Atlantean Empire, could. This place had so many more secrets to unravel. FC513 couldn't help but worry that even if the cave was unsealed centuries too early by sheer luck, that they were already running out of time to learn the truth it holds, one that undoubtedly has almost been lost forever had they continued sleeping, and long since been forgotten to the inhabitants of the Golden Grotto.
2. FC513 personally studies the earth jewel of divinity in and immediately outside of the cave, trying to see if the mural or anything around it responds to it's presence, appears to be made to hold a jewel of divinity, or suggests that the jewel of divinity floated above their heads when they awoke by anything other than it's own untapped powers. There had to be a reason why this particular type was selected for them over all seven others.
3. The ten completed stone golems begin to ceaselessly search for materials, particularly waxy plants and the seed pods of weeds, up to a nautical mile away from the cave from which they will then produce dark blue and dark green dyes that are identical as possible in composition to the two cave mural paints, always escorted by five constructs.
Orders
1. Every construct chisels down full their serial number in addition to every memory they ever had in an attempt to make sense of the past, and perhaps start partly reestablishing their prior collective grasp on the written form of Atlantean. In an attempt to perhaps unlock anything that may be concealed from them through brute force, FC513 assigns one of the fifteen constructs assigned to investigating and restoring the cave to, for the time being, indefinitely saying aloud in the cave every Atlantean word, common phrase, and, lastly, every possible word combination, from the bottom up.
2. FC513 personally studies the earth jewel of divinity in and immediately outside of the cave, trying to see if the mural or anything around it responds to it's presence, appears to be made to hold a jewel of divinity, or suggests that the jewel of divinity floated above their heads when they awoke by anything other than it's own untapped powers. There had to be a reason why this particular type was selected for them over all seven others.
3. The ten completed stone golems begin to ceaselessly search for materials, particularly waxy plants and the seed pods of weeds, up to a nautical mile away from the cave from which they will then produce dark blue and dark green dyes that are identical as possible in composition to the two cave mural paints, always escorted by five constructs.
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Bone2pick
Minority of One
Shirvein glided over the jelly-coated floor of the colony site, her inner circle swimming just behind. The scyphons in her path, however hard at work they appeared to be, scattered out of the crone's way as she advanced. It had been a frantic day — plunging into a long forgotten sea, with unknown dangers lurking in all directions. One expects difficulties when founding a new enclave, but doing so here, beside the gravesite of the legendary city of Atlantis, will likely require a nearly flawless execution.
Despite the day's challenges, Shirvein was pleased. Her people had proven prepared, and just as importantly, cautious. And when in unfamiliar waters, caution is a more prudent virtue than courage. She spotted the female she was looking for near the site's center – Mernae, the colony's master builder. Her builder, who was barking orders to a pair of artisans, promptly turned to face Shirvein and her accompanying circle, a fervor twinkling in her eyes.
"Is this site fit for an enclave?" Shirvein asked.
Mernea nodded, "I believe so. The surrounding kelp is home to several species of harvestable wildlife, and the plants are a replenishable resource in and of themselves. Eventually, when we're strong enough, the neighboring reef can serve as our garden."
"Eventually," Shirvein echoed. "Tell me what you need to construct a proper enclave?"
"A sturdy building material – stone, coral, crystal, or wood. Something durable enough to offer us safe retreat from monstrously-sized predators."
Shirvein nodded and then turned to the male witch in her inner circle. "Jodas, send the outswimmers to look for building materials. The sturdier the better."
"As you wish, my crone."
- - - ORDERS - - -
1. 12 outswimmers (divided into 3 teams of 4) sent to explore the surrounding kelp forest zone. 2 teams will scout the kelp forest and peek at its border zones, and 1 team will explore the nearby caves.
2. 15 harpooners, 6 battle sisters, and 1 witch hunt nearby great turtles. All parts of the reptile: hide, shell, bones, and meat are to be harvested by 6 accompanying artisans.
3. 10 artisans gather kelp, creepvines, luminous fruits, rubber, and wax.
4. 26 artisans, 1 master builder, 1 witch, and 2 emissaries try and construct shelter and domiciles at the colony site with whatever materials they can pull together
5. 15 Harpooners, 4 battle sisters, and 2 witches patrol the colony site.
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Northless
:The Mantis Shrimp teams went to work, by night or by day the initial assignments given them would need to be carried out if the colony landing was to be successful. So the mantis shrimp assembled, cleaned each others eyeballs and preened their armor and carapaces, and set out to work.
The first task force, set out to search and clear the shallow caves of potential threats and map things out -- was met with some difficulty... "Crashfish" -- known to have gone extinct in their native seas eons ago, seemed plentiful in these caves. A "Crashfish" was of blinding orange and yellow hues to the Mantis shrimps, so they quickly got wise to look for them -- but it was their odd physiology that made them an obstacle. The Crashfish gets it's name from it's suicidal tendency to devour large amounts of sulfur in thier environment and literally crash and explode into enemies to repel would-be invaders from their egg chambers. 8 unskilled workers and 5 skilled workers sustain injuries from crashfish launching themselves out of caves to repel the encroaching invaders.. nearly the entire task force. The warriors however discovered that even modest amounts of armor could protect the wearer from the burns these fish caused, and eventually grew adept at ambushing the crashfish or snagging them with full extended claws before they had a chance to explode on impact. At the bottom of the "Crash-Caves" there was no surprise to find a substantial amount of Sulfur deposits piled at the base of these caves, along with the crash-fishes delicious eggs. The mantis shrimp wondered, if farm raised and trained... could crash fish be turned into weapons of their own? It would take the cleverest of them to find out, but it was an idea. Despite almost the entire first task force being injured, the nearby caves were wholly mapped out -- and the larger creatures that lived in them were either torn apart by the shrimps or driven off by the seemingly unending explosions of the crash-fish.
Once the tunnels were clear, the second task force went about cleaning the caves of valuable mineral deposits. More resources could be gleaned with more workers, but the smallest deposits of limestone and sandstone were cleared of what the shrimps would hope to be part of their new home. They found 1 unit of titanium and 3 units of silver in the caves -- the latter being almost hypnotic in the way it reflected the light and colors around it. The shrimpies knew that silver could be made into a variety of useful tools and even wealth -- but when properly polished it was practically it's own form of entertainment for them. A larger deposit of silver lay in one of the deepest caves, but would require serious labor and likely tools to break up and take back to the sandbed...
The third task force was in charge of cultivating stationary food sources. Three suitable animals were found for these purposes -- the sendentary "Cling Star" -- a chewy and delicious starfish that moved little from where it was hinged to rocks as long as it was fed, Translucent Anemones were harvested off of rocks and laid out in rows on the sandbeds like little fields of flowers. With enough skilled guidance the task force was able to get very good at finding mollusks like ovoid and quadralateral clams and began burying them in patches to likewise breed and be harvested. The skilled workers also knew that anemone and starfish regenerated, so did a great job cutting up their food-sources so that each part would regenerate into a full creature as long as they were appropriately fed. By the end of the project the Mantis Shrimp had filled the sandbed around the caves with edible foodstuffs -- the Shrimps had made a FARM!
The hunting task force ranged further west to lay in wait for wandering sea-cows... the shrimps buried themselves in patches of vegetation and had taken to wearing anemones and other inviting food the sea-cows ate as hats, to attract their prey. The sea cows were much larger than the Mantis shrimp and the shrimps were not accustomed to hunting mammals... yet -- so their initial hunts were less than overwhelming. The range of their natural weapons was so short, and an alarmed sea-cow so fast, that unless they could be completely stunned in rapid succession their prey would inevitably get away, their large blubbery bodies proving to be protection against their powerful mace punches and grabbing claws alike. One thing was learned however -- that Sea-Cows were a DELICACY. The two that WERE caught were absolutely delicious and one was devoured on the spot as the shrimpies could not but help themselves from gorging on their rich layers of fat and ample muscle tissues. The second Sea-cow was taken back as a prize for the colony, and was shared out amoung the rest of the shrimp who were not on the hunt to enjoy with their anemones and clams. One thing was certain -- The shrimps would NEED to develop better traps and ways to capture sea-cows as their lust for their delicious meat and blubber seemed to know no bounds... but how to capture them more effectively!!? The shrimpies would wrack their brains to find out...
The last task force travelled far along the shallows to areas that had not been fled so much since the arrival of the mantis shrimps -- and made all their way to the great west cliff that seemed to hover endlessly high over the ever-spreading dunes biome ahead of them. Some mountains of sand nearly reached the surface while other depressions were too dark for even the mantis shirmp to see into from their perch. The Task force would not be able to see their neighbors without descending into the dunes -- and it seemed like they were still setting up. What stopped them from visiting was the sensing of great disturbances in the strong currents above the dunes and indeed to look above them they saw GIANT super-predators -- "REAPERS" they could be called, circling the eddies in the shallows and owning the depths over the dunes as absolute apex-predators in their environment. A reaper resembled nothing as much as an eel crossed with a snake, with it's giant forward facing mouth surrounded by grasping scythe-like appendages. The Task force felt that discretion was the better part of valor and fell back... not daring to challenge a reaper unless expressly ordered.
Thoe and their escort warrior were convinced of one thing about mouth, besides his ramblings... "mouth" was near suicidal to have crossed as much territory as it had, alone, and somehow not gotten eaten. Thoe and escort guarded mouth on the way back facing down a sandshark in a brief stint over the grassy plateaus and even at one point hid the tendril under the sand with them from a Kuraselache -- a mighty shark with octopus tentacles for a tail -- a living fossil! Still their bright coloration and mastery of stealth and hiding in the environment escorted Mouth back to his polypals successfully -- it was a wonder no-one died travelling so far with so few -- it was thought for certain that if all but the thinnest expanse of kelp forest had to be crossed to reach the polypal home that stalkers would have surely picked at least one of them off... but Thoe reached the Polypal colony, saw them all in their beauty and hideousness -- and how they seemingly had already found, and associated with -- relic constructs of the old Atlantean age. such wonders!
Thoe and ally were brought to the cave of the Fathom Automatons to see if their unique vision could help in decoding the ancient and destroyed murals the "Reclaimer" golems seemed so obsessed with reconstructing. Indeed, the trace amount of paints still clinging to the walls told a much more vivid story to the mantis shrimp than the polypals or reclaimers -- the shrimps could see where color boundaries were, could make out where areas of writing belonged (even if said writing was indecipherable) and could identify where in the pattern things were largely one color only, or seemingly decorative. This advanced unraveling the secrets of the mural to 25%.
Pat
. At the end of it all, Thoe and friend were far from home, and exhausted... but glad it seemed that their journey had not be for naught. If they were wise they would get back home soon -- and hopefully with a larger escort lest some ill befall them...
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Pat
:Every construct had to chisel down their serial number and all of the memories that it could bring to bear -- they did so all around the outside of the cave, for they lacked stone tablets to do so upon -- every bit of free stone was going to their servitor constructs -- but by the end of their project, they had an alphabet and numerical system -- the numbers made sense to them almost as if second nature, but the alphabet still escaped them for meaning. Still, comparing what fragments of words they knew to what they were confident was an almost complete set of symbols, they decoded scraps and fragments... Numerous references to "Those who come after the seal" -- "Unbury the way" and "Rainbow road" were picked out of the mural. There was much more to do -- but the constructs felt they had come very far in so brief a time when left with so little to go on... 50% of Atlantean comprehension gained.
FC513 contemplated the jewel of divinity -- earth type -- for any kind of clues as to why it was left to them. With the collective memories forming -- he remembered a great hand, that of a giant, hurriedly placing the jewel with the constructs, as if hiding it. Besides that, FC513 knew that such an implement would be invaluable for moving rock... for unburying things. He must keep it safe, and close.
The servitor constructs move to the nearby creepvines and harvest their fruit for what they hope will become a good analog to the paint in the cave... but valuable reagents are missing. While the golems harvest 3 units of rubber, 3 units of glowing bulbs and 2 units of wax, they DO NOT find a comparable synthesis to make a dye or paint they can use in the cave. Making a dye or paint suitable for water application might require rare pigments or sophisticated mechanisms or processes... but the Fathoms would not give up so easily...
As the Constructs are made out of crystal and stone, there are no risks from predators and not harm or casualties are sustained.
Elucid
Pearannoyed
Act I : Manifest Destiny
22nd of Sun's Dawn ~ Settlement of Brigdūnon
22nd of Sun's Dawn ~ Settlement of Brigdūnon
The journey into the depths of the unknown had been long and arduous, many were in hindsight perhaps unprepared for the perilous seas that awaited them. For the more superstitious of the lot, days of continual travel without rest or respite made the whole endeavor seem like folly. Was it really wise to chase after a land providence was so adamant on sealing off from the rest of the living world?
The naysayers were cowed into silence however, when the mysterious jewel so zealously guarded by their master was seemingly responsible for tearing the oceans asunder, only to reveal the promised land so many had set out to find. The initial euphoria was difficult to hide, even for the habitually stone-faced Pelagian Elite. The magnitude of the event, was not lost to anyone, no other of their kind had roamed this land before, who knew what untold riches lay here ready for the taking? It was only after the cavalry had been sent in to spur the group into action that the excitement simmered down a bit. Wiuhomarch was loathed to spend valuable minutes patting himself on the back for some small victory, knowing as he did that the decisions he made now could possibly affect his host for generations to come.
The Hippocampi Cavalry bedecked in a variety of vibrant colors signifying their noble stature, had clearly taken it upon themselves to act as the mormaer's mouth pieces, barking off orders with great surety. The members of Wiuhomarch's camp had incidentally begun calling him mormaer, or "sea lord" a state of affairs he was not quick to correct despite having no claims to such a lofty title as yet. The camp's initial endeavors seemed to bear fruit, the surrounding land was rich in resources and could certainly sustain a growing population what they really lacked however was protection. The awe inspiring pillars of basalt promised to change that, providing a great vantage point if something was awry and hopefully helping them stay clear of predators deeper underwater. Workers were thus immediately made busy constructing makeshift scaffolding to make carrying materials up great heights easier. Those more skilled among them were tasked with gauging the feasibility of carving living quarters within the rock itself and whether basalt had any properties that could be of use to them. The workers involved in building the new structure began calling it Brigdūnon, literally "high-fort", a name that Wiuhomarch wasn't about to dispute.
The rest of the party were engaged in finding a sustainable food source and exploiting the opportunities scouts before them had uncovered. An expedition into the Jelly Shroom Canyons was headed by Wiuhomarch himself, he didn't wish to be seen as doing nothing and the region looked promising, albeit dangerous.
Orders
- Five of the Pelagian Elite and another five of their mounted counterparts were left to guard both the initial settlement with its storehouses and materials and the new construction site at the basalt pillars.
- Fifteen Unskilled workers supervised by seven skilled ones are put to work determining the feasibility of carving habitable structures within the basalt pillars, if such a thing isn't possible they begin development on and around the structure.
- Ten unskilled workers along with seven skilled ones are engaged in mining the precious metals in the area, determining their uses and value. Including the salt crystal formations, and the patches of weathered-smooth iron blobs. They're accompanied by five of the Pelagian Elite for protection and supervision.
- Seven hunters along with seven skilled workers are dispatched with the aim of possibly capturing and domesticating the numerous Sea Cows in the region and figuring out a way of growing the light globe-fruit scattered about. Five Pelagian Elite accompany them for protection.
- Seven hunters are dispatched with the aim of laying snares and traps for small and large prey, to supplement the depleting food stores.
- Wiuhomarch (Hippocampi Cavalry) along with 5 Hippocampi Cavalry and seven hunters ventures down the Jelly Shroom Canyons (cautiously!) in search of anything of interest.
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Bone2pick
:
The outswimmers moved guided by musicians who played small violin-like instruments to direct the movement of the group and scare predators ahead of them. The outswimmers kept the stalkers on their toes, which kept them from sneaking up in turn... though a few close calls were had with hunting groups in the deeper kelp -- the outswimmers main objective was to scout the outskirts of the kelp forest and report their findings. They quickly located two of their neighbors -- the Pelagians on the plateau to the north, and the collective of the polypals far to the northeast in the shallows beyong their forest... and it quickly was becoming the Scyphon Kelp forest -- blue and pink jellies were now showing up in at least the smallest numbers in the farthest reaches of the kelp, particularly hovering in the sweeping currents near caves making them easier to find. Despite the best precautions however, an outswimmer was lost in the kelp forest, and was not found again -- it was thought to be due to a swift and especially deadly attack by a large stalker-fish.. but neither the outswimmer, his gear, nor the culprit could be found -- but patrols wisely put in place enabled the frightened outswimmer to be located much later... it was said a very large and aggressive stalker-fish trolled the deep Kelps... and it would have to be stopped.
The third group explored the caves and clashed with a family of stalker-fish hiding within... a great clash took place but the outswimmers reigned victorious. with three caves claimed, one cave was found to contain a Vein of Gold, a stalker nest contained many pieces (3 units) of collected titanium, and the third cave contained a clutch of stalker eggs -- which might serve purposes of food or husbandry.
Of the second group, Four giant turtles were caught, harpooned, and slain before the rest fled back into the shallows... A great amount of meat and strong bones were harvested, and the shells promised to make good armor or ornate goods. Tools could be made of many parts of these animals, and the leather they wore was particularly extravagant. 4 units of turtle bones and 4 units of turtle shell are harvested. The flesh of the turtles was relished by the upper echelons of society and the lower tiers got fed from the salvaged pods of creepervine, kelp-fruit, and harvested cave-scallops... which showed promise of higher cultivation in larger colonies if labor was applied.
The third group gathered these Kelp-products and fronds for clothing, seeds for planting and eating as well as rubber, wax and lubricant were found in great amounts. Tending carefully to the fronds, maximum product was extracted without harming supplies. Rubber, Wax and Lubricant are now sustainable resources and need not be quantified.
With magic, enterprise, and invention -- the Scyphon developed an easy means of making new homes -- frames of the toughest kelp-fronds, ample loose rock from the kelp bottoms adhered and layered with rubber and wax for adhesive. The master builder and magic of the witch assembled with the artisans produced many "row-houses" that trailed between the great jelly-homes that the higher tier were accustomed and claimed of.
The Patrols kept a good watch on all activities, and perhaps even saved some lives from opportunistic predators.
Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Elucid
:
The Pelagian Guardian patrols around the storage area and the and the Basalt pillars kept predators at bay -- sand sharks seemed to fear the Hippocampi, and their hooves treading on the sand would always set them to surface, if not to running. A couple of more aggressive sand-sharks were made short work of by the elite pelagians and the cavalry... the sharkskin seemingly a potentially valuable commodity as it was both comfortable and protective. The meat of a sand-shark however -- was terrible -- were the pelagians more hungry, a stew of various fish and sand-dwelling animals could be found in their stomachs, but the artisans would have to be applied to this project to make such a stew palatable, though it was undoubtedly nutritious.
With the tools the Pelagians had brought, they found they could with great difficulty break chunks off of the basalt without harming the larger structures... slowly small homestead caves or one or two chambers were built in one or two of the towers, with the remaining stone left to construct a wall or smaller houses near the tower structures. Those positioned from the commanding view of the basalt towers were swift to detect danger and direct the Hippocampi quickly to counter it. It would be slow going and require much more labor -- but homes were being made.
The task force assigned to collecting resources had plenty of ground to cover, but thankfully the cover of the Pelagian Elite kept them focused on their work. The salt they found was tremendously pure and hard -- useful in combination with products of the kelp forest for bleaching and dyeing fabric. It was likewise BRILLIANT as an application for tannin sand-shark leather -- making rough skin into strong fabrics quickly. Salt is a renewable resource here. Though not in infinite amounts, iron was a valuable resource the workers could gather -- apparently ejecta from ancient volcanic activity, some of the larger pieces lay just buried under the sand, while other lumps just sat atop the sediments seeming to have slowly moved with the contours of the land before hardening. Coupled with the thermal vent they could smelt iron tools and equipment, which while very heavy also promised to be very useful. 8 units of iron are secured.
Capture of the sea-cows was easy for the Pelagian elite and the workers that swam with them -- once it was established the Pelagians merely wanted to move and concentrate the cows in an area and not hurt them (even protect them from sand sharks) the sea-cows got accustomed to being driven to patches of blood-grass where they grazed almost thoughtlessly, despite being herded around.
15 sea cows were captured and could be used for milk or meat as desired... with more capturable if more labor and time was placed in the endeavor, as it seemed the greater number the sea cows gathered in the easier it was to get more to join the herd. The delicious globe-light fruit was also seen to have a great many sticky seeds within the most ripe specimens, which seemed to cling to rocks and even better to patches of bloodgrass. As long as they were careful where they grazed their sea-cows, it might be a matter of no time at all before a new generation of proliferated fruit-plant took over this part of the plateau.
The trappers learned quickly that small crustaceans could be made to swarm over the corpse of a sea cow -- and built snares with pieces of cow-meat that sand-sharks could not remove or break but the crustaceans could easily proliferate trapping themselves in the box-snares. Just like they caught sea cows to bait their traps some cows were trapped and killed for meat to quickly feed the triibe.
In one instance a Kuraselache tore a trap to bits, but it was learned burying them deeper in the sand kept larger predators away from the box-traps. Traps for larger prey were laid out along the boundary of the great reef -- and in one case a great bony fish was captured but otherwise the traps came up empty. They would need more workers and more time. The bony fish was hard to break open and clean, but the meat was substantial and rich -- leading one to wonder at the quality of food/sustenance on the great reef. The bony fish could also be hided to make a relatively light but powerful armor, if desired 1 unit of Bony fish scales.
Wiuhomarch and his 5 other Hippocampi riders sought to gain entrance to the Jelly Shroom Caverns... looking carefully at the caves into the deeps -- they were both oddly lit and scarily dark. The great eels were Desperately attracted to hippocampi flesh as a potential meal, so the leader of the faction and his companions, thinking discretion was the better part of valor, did not attempt to penetrate the caves. They would need numbers and some means of distrubing the eels if access to the caves was to be attained...
Pat
Three Thousand Club
FC513 has their constructs chisel down unseen aspects of the cave wall painting that the mantis shrimp pointed out to them. The day was nearly upon them, they knew. They were only a few breakthroughs away from finding the pattern, and then solving the puzzle. But for now, their remarkable progress so far had ground to a halt until the composition of the paint became clear to them. It was special, of that much they were certain. There were other matters to attend to. Allies. Mana. Knowledge. They would have to swallow their pride to inspect the Atlantean shackling device at the Deadbulb. Perhaps it would reveal more secrets to be shared with their friends. Hopefully, the N.A.A. was busy right now bickering amongst themselves about whether their claims for sentience were true.
1) Ten Reclaimers help escort the mantis shrimp home, and heal the injured mantis shrimp there, as payment for their invaluable services rendered.
2) Five Reclaimers as well as FC513 themselves continue to serve as local guides for their allies.
3) The remaining ten Reclaimers, and the ten stone golems, begin to create a replica of the cave wall mural using stone tablets. They begin to produce paint analogs, gathering resources as needed, to see if they can fill in any of the blanks left without yet having the correct paint or disturbing the cave wall mural. They couldn't leave anything to chance.
4) With 33%-50% of their mana crystals used to power the stone golems, the Reclaimers begin to save their remaining mana crystals to use on the portal to potentially transport five of them through if the N.A.A. suddenly changes their terms.
Orders
1) Ten Reclaimers help escort the mantis shrimp home, and heal the injured mantis shrimp there, as payment for their invaluable services rendered.
2) Five Reclaimers as well as FC513 themselves continue to serve as local guides for their allies.
3) The remaining ten Reclaimers, and the ten stone golems, begin to create a replica of the cave wall mural using stone tablets. They begin to produce paint analogs, gathering resources as needed, to see if they can fill in any of the blanks left without yet having the correct paint or disturbing the cave wall mural. They couldn't leave anything to chance.
4) With 33%-50% of their mana crystals used to power the stone golems, the Reclaimers begin to save their remaining mana crystals to use on the portal to potentially transport five of them through if the N.A.A. suddenly changes their terms.
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Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
Over the shallows.... under the shallows, through tunnel and tube... it was a great distance to escort the mantis shrimp back to their holdfast, but between the provocative coloration of the shrimps and the inorganic uninvitingness a Fathom posed as a meal, the trip to transport the Mantis Shrimp leader and their companion was a swift one. At one point they saw a marching formation of pointy shellfish that hunted by outgassing and flying up to pierce fish swimming above, which postured to advance on them -- but the fathoms with their heavy gait deterred simple animals from aggression.
The Fathoms healed the badly injured Mantis shrimps that were hurt by the crashfish. though many looked to be on the brink of death, the fathoms brought them back.
The Fathoms continued to work with the Polypals, and they were useful guides and guardians.
The NAA hadn't changed their terms... yet. It was likely to be a while and after finding a great mana source that matter, even a fathom, could be sent through the currently one-way portal.
Heyitsjiwon
One Thousand Club
After relaying what they could from the walls on the cave, Thoe and her escort swam rapidly in front of one of the polypals, and asked if anyone knew how to communicate with 'the primus', whoever they were. She couldn't help but impatiently display various color patterns on her skin as the polyps seemed to communicate with each other. After a while, they told her in ugly tones that what she spoke would be transmitted to the primus, and she settled on a dull blue and red through her rant. "Are you aware of the dangers Mouth would have faced on it's own had we not been there and accompanied? Sandsharks, Kuraselaches, to name the least. I was sure at least some of you had went as reinforcements, yet I was proven wrong. We always go in groups, and we would have lost many today had we not done so. Is this how your species treat those that can't possibly defend themselves against creatures like these? They accomplish a deed and are expendable afterwards to you? Are we expendable, now, and you'll let us make our way back through the kelp forest alone as well? When the dark hits the Grotto, even us have trouble passing through it, but I doubt you'll let us stay until the bright rises tomorrow."
One of the nearby Tendril's eyes waved back and forth for a few seconds, observing the swarm, before it began to speak from one of its mouths "The waters are always dangerous. Though one sole Tendril will have much better chances at sneaking by as needed. As you said, there are horrible monsters and we cannot fight them, yet. Thus, we will sneak and rely on our speed to carry on. Though, I have heard of your people and their abilities. Tell me, do you fear these creatures? If so, then we truly are in perilous danger if the Shrimps cannot fight them either. But we will do what we can so that we can survive. Would you not give up one life for the lives of all the others? As for returning, you are free to stay however long as you wish. If you desire anything else, then speak forth. As much as we wish we were, we are not mind readers."
"For what we've seen, you have no need to give up one life for others, as neither do we. That we're plenty doesn't mean we don't have to look out for each other. We don't fear those creatures, but we don't like taking chances on these matters. Apart from escort trasspasing the kelp forests as you seem so sure you can do without a problem, I meant to ask if we could borrow any of you who would know how to catch the sea cows effectively. As much as we wish we were, we are not used to such big prey."
A wave of colors rippled through the swarms and soon after the Polypal replied "As a matter of... good will, the Primus has agreed to send a "caravan" to escort you back to your people and conduct trade. We have interest in the creatures in your ecosystem and will assist in their capture while we have found some resources that you may find valuable. We also would like to ask for assistance on some matters as well. Particularly in starting a fire and beginning to smith and create tools. Would your fabled punch be able to start a fire, Colorful One?" another Polypal then approached with a chunk of a blue/purplish mineral.
Thoe eyed the mineral, her colors changing if ever so slightly "Purphorite. We can start the fire, and the mineral can sustain it. If you want to try and commence trade, all the better for us, but I doubt we would have much of use to give you, unless you're thinking about making weapons out of silver."
"Food and livestock will suffice. Both that we will assist your kind in capturing. Silver... while the Polypals do not value it like most do as a sign of wealth... I am sure we could find other uses. Silver weapons do indeed sound intriguing. We have heard that undead are rather weak to such things. Regardless, having these avenues for trade will surely benefit both of our peoples, no?"
"Don't patronize us. As I've said, if you want to begin trade, we won't stop you on doing as such. It would be beneficial for both, and I'm sure the tribe would be pleased to have your kind helping there, as well... Strangely Colored Ones. As long as we can find a sustainably balance to not lose all of our resources within a week, you're more than welcome to come and do as you see fit, as long as it's reasonable."
"It is interesting that you see insult and threats in places where it does not exist. But yes, let trade commence between our peoples. We shall prepare a swarm to escort you back. We will also ask the Constructs if they are interested as well. Safety in numbers, as they say. More surely cannot be bad."
"Your colors are uncanny, to say the least. They paint your words with arrogance. Do the Constructs have a need for food and livestock, as well? Why the wish for them to come?"
"The eyes of the Mantis people are intriguing as always, but the rest of the world do not see as you do. In regards to the Constructs, they efficient guides for us, and in the event of emergencies, they are rather capable healers."
"Might not be the case for the rest of the world, but our eyes are one of the only things we can rely on. If they would accept to heal my people as well, they're welcome too, in the case they do accept to come. If you think they would want to..."
"We are not their master. If they come, then they will come and help escort you back. Perhaps, as a thank you for helping them."
"In a matter you helped too, even in a manner I don't agree with. Thank you as well for agreeing to talk. I hope trade turns out the best for both."
"Very well, we shall set forth promptly."
---
The swarm gathered in the Deadbulb once more. Many were tired by the lack of tools. Despite the energy of the Tendrils, they needed tools to dig into the rock. But they didn't have the means to, yet. With the Mantis Shrimp people needing escorts, the Primus gathered a swarm and came to find that the Reclaimers desired to help as a sign of gratitude for their help with the paintings. Thus, a caravan of sorts was set up to open trade and send a swarm to assist the Mantis people capture their animals. Another colorful flash then set off towards the east where they had not explored yet. Finally, Primus himself and the bulk of his Infestors set off to the north in a dull prismatic flurry.
---
Summary/Orders:
1. Continued work on the Deadbulb Lair/Fishery
5 Mimics, 50 Tendrils
2. Trade/Good Will Caravan to the Mantis Shrimp people
5 Infesters, 50 Tendrils, 10 Reclaimers, Thoe and 1 Punch Shrimp
Exports: Stone, Ceramics, Native Eggs/Fishies/Livestock
Import: Sulfur, Silver, Native Eggs/Fishies/Livestock
3. Exploration of the Shallows to the East of the Lair
10 Mimics, 50 Tendrils, 2 Reclaimers
4. Exploration of the Northern Kelp Forest
Primus, FC513, 15 Infesters, 2 Reclaimers
5. Using the current progress of the 2nd Lair and the Purphorite, convert the depression into a forge/great fire/thermal source/vent and begin to craft alloys and metallic tools, armor and weapons.
5 Mimics, 50 Tendrils, 1 Reclaimer
Purphorite, 1 Unit of Titanium, Lead
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Pat
Three Thousand Club
FC513 felt relieved. They were halfway through reachieving comprehension of the written form of Atlantean, and made sense of forty percent of the mural painted onto the cave wall in addition to the runes that were etched into it. They had enough to go on to eventually understand the rest of it, given they have the time to do so. Now it was simply a question of waiting until one of the constructs cracked the code, so to speak. Without their allies working alongside them, they couldn't imagine having gotten so far. It was time to give them a more physical gift to show their appreciation.
Orders
1) Ten Reclaimers continue to study the runes as they continue work on the replica with a whole new method of attempting to use their preexistent knowledge of spoken Atlantean as an advantage in reading written Atlantean. By rereading aloud parts of the message they that had already discovered, they could use pronunciation as well as grammar to spot patterns that they could use to expand their vocabulary. They also begin to cross reference their findings with common. If this age was preceded by the fall of Atlantis, and the most influential faction appeared to be the N.A.A., logic would dictate their most universally used language might share some characteristics with Atlantean, at least in FC513's theories so far. Orthographically or phonologically, they were determined to find some thread tying the living language of their allies and the extinct words of their long since fallen masters together at last.
2) Ten Reclaimers and ten stone golems begin to make stone tools for their allies, substituting coral for stone wherever it is found to be better suited.
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Bone2pick
Minority of One
The inner circle gathered inside the glowing gelatinous shelter of a newly constructed tendrilla*. Shirvein, grateful to finally have a proper scyphon dwelling, nibbled on a chunk of turtle meat while Glaemna finished her report.
"She survived, but she'll need time to recover," Glaemna said.
As the crone considered the encounter with the stalker-fish, Jodas spoke up. "If I may, a stalker that size . . . with that level of aggression, must be found and destroyed immediately. We can't safely tend the kelp forest with a monster on the loose."
Shirvein swallowed her last bit of turtle and then licked her dark lips before addressing her male witch. "Destroyed, yes... Both you and Glaemna will ensure that this is done."
Jodas and Glaemna exchanged unenthusiastic looks before nodding.
"Take no more warriors than you'll need," Shirvein continued, "because our emissaries will require protection on their way to our neighbors."
Ethash, another viscous witch, stirred. "What do we know of the polypals?"
"Virtually nothing," the crone answered, "save they are in the alliance. Which is why I sent Shalmel; she has my full confidence."
"We are fortunate to have alliance colonies so close," Ethash said. Much of the concern in her voice now gone.
Shirvein stiffened and then gazed absently at the pink and purple lantern jellyfish floating throughout the tendrilla. "We shall see..."
*tendrilla = jelly-house
- - - ORDERS - - -
1. Emissary groups sent to pelagians and polypals. 1 emissary, 4 outswimmers, and 4 harpooners in each group (2,8, & 8 total)
Elucid
Heyitsjiwon
2. 20 artisans mine nearby caves for gold, while 9 others gather scallops and any other food. 6 harpooners and 2 battle sisters accompany them for security
3. 10 artisans continue to harvest kelp for wax, rubber, and lubricant
4. 4 battle sisters, 6 harpooners, and 1 witch hunt for large and aggressive stalker-fish
5. 8 battle sisters, 3 outswimmers, 1 witch, and 15 harpooners patrol the colony
6. 1 artisan cares for stalker-fish eggs
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Beckoncall
World-Weaver and servant to the most-holy PC
SpiralErrant
:
The Vythan Rebublic stepped through the portal and into the crude structure that was built around it. in waves, they dove into the cool waters below leaving the surface and the sun to shrink above them. The Merfolk looked at the area blooming beneath them and decided to settle right in the center of it all, the tallest shallows in the center of the secret sea, where the water was less than 20 feet deep in places, mounds of coral and sand as far as the eye could see, speckled with jellies and odd plants of every description. Swim any length in any direction and one was likely to hit a kelp forest, but the stalkers stayed out of the low-tidal areas and only smaller fish and Penglings, bladderfish and hoverfish cared to swim in the most central area here. Even the sea cows ranged only on the outskirts of this area -- the merfolk felt truly safe in their new habitat and immediately began exploring it for resources.
Hard slices of "Table Coral" grew in the shallowest parts of the reef, soaking up the sun -- these corals had the texture and utility of wood, and strangely enough the shallows near the Vythan landing zone contained a weird pile of metal debris, long buffeted and weathered by the waves (gain 4 units titanium) .
In addition to this, the Merfolk found several large tube-worm skeletons that tunnelled through the rock at odd intervals around the central shallows, allowing folk to move quickly about the area undetected. A large cave central to the shallow mounds contained a moderate vein of gold and a moderate vein of copper as well.
The initial problem however was shelter -- there was little if you did not count the tubeworm tunnels and metal veined cave -- there was little to fear where they presently resided but all this rock and table coral might be better suited made into dwellings.
SpiralErrant
Senior Member
"Here in the shallows, where the ocean rises to meet the sun and feels the draw of the moon most keenly."
Soon enough the disorientation of the portal journey came to pass and Astor was able to make sense of things as wave after wave of colonists came in after him. A half cohort of spears swimming in fluid formation, kept together by their stern faced sergeants like the knots in netting. Followed by anxious merfolk, clutching their worldly possessions and huddled in their family and friendship groups. Finally on the tails came the tide readers and the magos, cloaks and trinkets flowing in their wake like so many brightly coloured tendrils.
From there on it was as if the fledgling colony took on a life of its own. As many and as one the merfolk began to find their confidence. Felling safe in the bright warmth of their landing area and began to spread out to explore and to lay claims. One could hardly blame them, if anyone had found this sun kissed grove back in Vythan territory they could have easily taken it for a fashionable new holiday destination. The tide readers declared it a blessed oasis in these wild lands, watched over by the gods and put aside in preparation for their arrival.
Astor, for his part, was lost in a mixture of wonder and dread. They had found a piece of paradise so similar to the homeland they had left behind and yet so different that it couldn't help but set his imagination to running with all the possibilities. Which was followed swiftly by all the possible ways this could go wrong. Death by the predators, the elements and all the untold horrors that might lurk within the distant waters. Suffering and agony! Failure and shame that would cement his name as a curse in Vythan history! Who's damned idea was it to let Astor of all people be in charge of something this important?!
"Sir?" Came a nearby voice to break Astor out of his impending panic attack. "Your orders, Sir? The squadrons are fanning out to form a secure perimeter."
Astor shook himself from this stupor and back into the present. "Yes, security, that's an important, issue... Yes! A-and shelter, we need somewhere to stay, oh gods and things to build it with."
"Building materials have been supplied, Sir, though it has been recommended we make use of local resources as well." The armoured soldier's voice was a steady, grounding rumble, like the song of a waterfall. He was one of the nauts. The odd man out as Astor had taken to calling him in his head. This one had been assigned as his personal bodyguard, with no squad to call his own. "A sustainable food supply and survey of the nearby area are also pressing issues."
"That's right. We should make contact with the other Alliance groups as well, we need to make sure they made it through alright." Astor nodded along.
"I would recommend seeing to solidifying our own outpost first, Sir."
"Alright... that sounds right." Astor mumbled before letting out a mighty and bubbling sigh as if he could will the tension from his body. "ALRIGHT! Let's get to work!" Astor yelled, clapping his hands together and rising through the water with a determined grin on his face as he went to hold council with the various experts and community leaders that would form the spearhead of their early efforts. At the very least he could fake it until he made it. He didn't have to feel like a confident and inspiring leader, just look like one.
What followed were meetings with grim faced military sergeants. Mind numbing talks in the construction of easily fabricated shelters (those really left Astor longing for the comforts of the cities) and lectures from sniping magos and dogmatic tide readers. All of them wanted to pull things in their own direction, claiming that their own expertise would be the crucial corner stone of the fledgling settlement. It took a lot of skirting answers and the soothing of more than a few egos to strike a balance and see them all off to their work, content that they had been heard. Until all that remained for Astor to do was to wait and see what results the labours of others would bring in and what shape their shallow grove would be carved into. A fairly quaint one if the building teams and military advisers were to be believed. He'd given them leave to make use of the tube worm tunnels for their building efforts, the plan was to create dwellings that were half submerged into the tunnel paths. Giving the residents a sunny upper floor for day time activities and shallow subterranean levels for privacy and with easy access to evacuation tunnels should it ever be needed.
It was an intriguing idea. One that Astor could see giving their future town a unique style. Until he inevitably got back to panicking over the idea that any of these decisions would get them all killed!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Orders
Orders
1) Military forces are to spread out patrols and secure a perimeter around the settlement in case predators on the border get ideas. Working in squads of 10. (9 spears, 1 armour clad per squad. 45 spears, 9 armour clads in total)
2) Building team one is set to excavating the tubeworm tunnels and forming foundations for the half above ground/half below ground dwellings. (10 Skilled workers, 25 unskilled workers)
Linked with:
3) Building team two is set to harvesting local resources from the table coral and stone from the mouth of the central cave to support the shelter/dwelling project of building team one. (10 skilled workers, 25 unskilled workers)
4) The magos and tide readers cannot wait to begin their studies! Working within the security perimeter set out they begin examining the local area for potential archaeological finds. They have also managed to bully Astor into allowing them each an assistant. (5 mages, 5 priests, 10 unskilled workers.)