Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Yoink]

>Cautiously approach the spot where I was accosted by that one troll one before, attempt to ascertain whether he or she is still there after all this time.
They don't seem to move very quickly, after all...

[Pancaek]

"Query: The scouting out of locations sounds somewhat important in the light of recent events. This one is sure you can find other bodies for simple grunt work, but things like that this one is more than happy to help with.

Hesitant statement: This one will go on the mission for the heart if command so desires. However, this one is still somewhat averse after the general incompetence of last mission. Also, this one questions if throwing more bodies at this objective than you already are will increase the chances of succes.

Proposal: Perhaps this one is better used to complete secondary objectives like the exploration, with the option of being hot dropped as support if things go awry in the main mission?"

Conversate.

[Ozarck]

>Cautiously approach the spot where I was accosted by that one troll one before, attempt to ascertain whether he or she is still there after all this time.
They don't seem to move very quickly, after all...

(2) you cautiously approach the area, but the troll is not there.

"Query: The scouting out of locations sounds somewhat important in the light of recent events. This one is sure you can find other bodies for simple grunt work, but things like that this one is more than happy to help with.

Hesitant statement: This one will go on the mission for the heart if command so desires. However, this one is still somewhat averse after the general incompetence of last mission. Also, this one questions if throwing more bodies at this objective than you already are will increase the chances of succes.

Proposal: Perhaps this one is better used to complete secondary objectives like the exploration, with the option of being hot dropped as support if things go awry in the main mission?"

Conversate.

"You would, undoubtedly, be the most tested, competent being on that mission, were you to go. However, we will not force you to make that choice. It is expected to be a troublesome mission for all involved. Hot dropping ... hmm, that gives me an idea. Yes, if it comes to it, perhaps that wold be a useful idea."

[Pancaek]

"You would, undoubtedly, be the most tested, competent being on that mission, were you to go. However, we will not force you to make that choice. It is expected to be a troublesome mission for all involved. Hot dropping ... hmm, that gives me an idea. Yes, if it comes to it, perhaps that wold be a useful idea."

"Reply: Excellent, this one is glad that you like the idea. This one also feels that the people on mission should do without this one's support for the time being. Perhaps they will come to appreciate this one's efforts then.

Statement: This one is ready for whatever other task you deem necessary, and also to be hot dropped when needed."

Excellent, plan "faff about, possibly hot drop is a-go. Go ask around command to see what secondary task they want me to do right now.

[Ozarck]

An officer directs you toward a series of portals. The technicians monitoring these portals tell you that they lead into the unknown. Most everyone else is busy moving Omega equipment and the like to a different set of portals, but these each have some potential use for Omega, should the regions beyond prove suitable for the plans of the Officers.

[Pancaek]

"Statement: Well, this one is ready to begin whenever. If you'd point this one in the direction of the portal you'd want done first, that would be great."

When the technician give the go-ahead, step through the portal they reccomend. If they don't reccomend anything, just pick the one closest to me.

[Ozarck]

You step out into a dust storm. It seems to be daytime, based on the ambient light, but it's hard to tell, what with the dust and all. hte wind isn't enough to push you around, but it makes walking and navigation challenging. The portal glows behind you with a steady, reassuring light.

[Pancaek]

Actually, step back through the portal for now and ask the Omega people what exactly they expect from me, since I don't think anyone's really told me.

After that, get some spikes and a bunch of rope and head back through the portalplant a spike and attach the rope to it, so I can hansel and gretel my back to it. Use robutt computing to figure out the source of this dust storm and if it's common here, and to check the surrounding area for anything interesting.

[Ozarck]

"Oh, you know. Explore, report. Gather interesting things if you find them. Try not to die."

You gather some gear and head in again. from your computing you determine that the dust storms are probably a regular local occurrence, spawned by natural means. How frequent, intense, or long lasting they are, you haven't determined.
You walk as far as your equipment will allow, and make a full circle. You find nothing of interest.

[Pancaek]

Stand here for a while more to see if the dust storm changes. While standing around, use robutt computing to determine two things: Are the duststorms permanent? Are there any structures around here?

[Ozarck]

The dust storm lasts for several hours. You get dust in every joint, and will need a full cleaning and maintenance overhaul when you return. You are getting the occasional alarm on some tubing losing pressure, some wire shorting, some lens cracking. But eventually the winds die down and the storm passes. You then cast your mental abilities toward, and discover a vast, half buried city. It's walls are a couple miles from here, but you sense the structure radiating outward from there, even below ground right up to your current location and beyond for another mile or so.

[Pancaek]

"Sarcastic Statement: Wonderful."

Use my robutt farseeing to check out that city, both the above ground bit and the underground bit.

[Ozarck]

(6) Something uses your robutt farseeing to check you out.

[Pancaek]

((So, I didn't even get a little bit of info back?))

Nope. Nope out of there straight back through the Nope portal. If I managed to leg it home this turn, say the following the the omega lads.

"Statement: This portal houses sand. Both on the ground and flying in your face at high velocity. There are structures, but aboveground and underneath.
Warning: This one did not search further, as its magic was used by something when this one tried to use farseeing to scout ahead. This one did not investigate further, feeling that a site with some kind of magical entity capable of using magical channels in it is probably not worth the effort.

Request: This one will need to get some maintanance before venturing into another portal. The sand is interfering with this one's functioning."

[Ozarck]

sure, you got info back. I just thought that was the most relevant and immediate piece of info. I didn't want to dilute the impact.

Back at base, after your report, as you are getting pulled apart, cleaned, greased, adjusted, and reassembled, you sift through your findings from that event. Whatever it was that looked back through you was a large consciousness, but perhaps not a sapient one. it lived, not in the sand, but in the underground regions of the ruined city. The entire city, above ground and below, carried with it the feel of age - many years in a dry place above, many years in the cool earth below, and deeper, the typical scent of dampness. The below ground part of the city was layered - the higher layers looked as if they were meant to be lived in above ground, but perhaps had been consumed by the desert. Below that, a mix of the remains of previous cities, long since built over, and a vast, intricate tunnel network. Much of the tunnel network was designed as habitation and commerce, while still more was designed as waste removal, maintenance, drainage, and the like. Even further in, natural caves could be found.

It is unclear whence came the consciousness that resides there now, or if it is one vast gestalt, or if you brushed up against a sort of collective unconscious from some kind of hive or nest or something. But other beings live within the ecosystem of the underground city as well, though you only caught glimpses of the usual small things: insects, rodents, lizards.

You send this info as a follow up report. Next time you approach the portal room, that portal is shut, and tagged with some arcane writing.