Re: A Pilgrimage into the Hydras' Lair

[Joe Joerson]

Another audio transmission is received, along with coordinates of a specific location, at the edge of Xengari settlement.

"Here is the landing site, there should be preparations already in place but should there be any difficulties be aware I will be landing shortly. There should be sufficient guidance in place for you to start your journey immediately after landing, I can understand if you wish to wait for an Ulwa presence if necessary and you are free to proceed as you wish."

More specifically the landing site is at an outpost of some kind considering its location inside of the large world dominating tropical forest. Further information about the site will likely be seen as Ashepta nears the sight.

[Mthis]

Ashepta goes to follow the coordinates and land her vessel simply, preparing her own survival kits and rations before heading to leave her vessel and have a look at the sorroundings, if its at Tropical world it might be a good idea to get an idea of what kind of animals exsists on it too.

[Joe Joerson]

As she lands, more can be seen of the surrounding area and facility. The entire landing area, which Ashepta's ship takes up a small portion of, surrounds a central complex that is a research complex of a kind, likely studying the surrounding wildlife and forest given the relative untouched nature of the forest besides the area cleared for the landing zone and structure. The complex is built like a fortress of some bygone age with seemingly walls and towers within despite the fact it is a singular connected building, if looked from above there is no courtyard or other space that would be found in such an older structure.

On the great landing zone there are several vessels not entirely un-similar to shuttles, however inspecting their design would reveal an incapability to move beyond atmosphere effectively meaning these are likely a large planetary transport which given Xengari size might not mean all that much. The top half of each vessel overhands the lower section, as the lower section appears to have little purpose given the comparative sizes, and is in the general shape of a half ovoid, various groves and protrusions disrupt this shape however they do it with the usual curving motions of Xengari design.

The Forest around the landing area is one of mostly brighter greens that may be slightly unpleasant to behold for extended periods due to brightness, noises from the forest, if attempted to be found over the noise of the Xengari machines, are distant in most cases though sounds emanating from what are smaller creature may be found closer.

As Ashepta descends from her ship into the rather bright general environs, and noisy, she might notice a group of Xengari bipedal robots, and some of a smaller spider like variety, approaching her ship and her in particular once she comes into view.

[Mthis]

Ashepta looks confused at the Robots approaching her, but tries to hide a feeling of unease shes getting from it as she heads out to look at what remains of nature in the sorroundings, she must afterall go into the wilderness on her journey, but finding a place high up to meditate to try and sense for a thinning in the veil would also be a good idea.

[Joe Joerson]

Heading towards the forest, unless taking a route that would increase travel time to allow the robots to catch up, will result in heading almost directly away from the group, though only a minute or two before they catch up anyway given their current pace. Upon reaching the forest Ashepta would find that the larger sedentary plant-like organisms have been relatively untouched however much of the undergrowth has been removed and transferred into plots each labeled in Low Kolesh script, a Xengari writing. The plots are occupied by various obviously foreign plants, if one knew enough about xeno-botany, their structure and bluish coloration one might find on Akreon Prime. There are ample paths through if one wished to go further, the natural undergrowth might return far enough out from the research center though straying off into the forest might not be the best idea, especially in light of the xenophobic nature of the planet's current controllers.

Up in the tops of the larger 'trees' some life forms can be found, though at Ashepta's approach some have glided away, getting a better look at them might take some time, though actions might be easier if proper equipment was used.

[Mthis]

For now Ashepta's goal appears to be to find a location of relative height to meditate, a proper place to attune herself to the fabric between reality and what is not reality on this world to first of all determine if a thinning in that veil is present and if it is, the size of it.

Finding a proper spot might be difficult however, but nobody said such a journey was meant to be easy.

[Joe Joerson]

Forwarding that goal the 'trees' might provide enough height and stability although the upper tendrils appear to be rather flexible and easily moved under pressure of any kind.

However the robots might be able to help, at least with location to a large rock outcropping or some similar tall place of stability. Or perhaps one of the anti gravity flying machines mentioned by Zinat...?

In any case the robots were once again approaching Ashepta, all except one of the bipeds, currently examining her ship from a location several meters away, apparently moving to a closer distance. Odd especially considering the capability of each of the robots to alert and communicate at much larger distances than is being approached.

[Mthis]

Ashepta decides to brandish her claws and test the bark of these trees for their climbability...If her claws are strong enough she might just consider scaling these trees herself to get to the top

[Joe Joerson]

Surprisingly the 'bark' of the 'trees' is fairly easily pierced, however there is a harder inner layer that would allow Ashepta to climb although having to with each grip pierce through the relatively soft outer 'bark' likely to be a rather odd experience but she is plenty capable of such an undertaking with a minimal chance of danger from climbing mishaps.

In addition the robots approach even closer however maintaining their pace, Ashepta could likely climb the 'tree' nearest to her before they reached her location, though she would have only a short minute before they reached the base of the tree, by best estimate from their previous terrain covering capabilities. As well they still remain silent except for the sound of the robotic feet hitting soft and slightly wet ground.

Whether to confront the robots or try to accomplish a part of her mission first, or something else entirely, action is needed to decide, remaining of course chooses one of those options as an action of inaction.

[Mthis]

Ashepta sheaths her staff on her back and proceeds to climb the tree, getting to the top would be a good idea to get an overlook and meditate to attune herself to the energies that seperate the material from the immaterial.

Climbing is a favorite passtime of many Septhi back on the homeworld as it may be somthing leftover from their time as predatory animals before their evolution of sentience.

[Joe Joerson]

Aside from some hissing and scurrying away for Ashepta, which might tell her not all of the earlier life forms glided away, the climb is relatively easy for the reasonably practiced Septhi. Reaching the top quickly Ashepta would quickly realize that the tendrils that run off this tall stalk of a organism are not particularly stable and it is a poor idea to move far out from the direct top as it flattens out to a relatively rounded bulb.

Ashepta has some time before the robots even reach the base of the 'tree', even then they might simply wait for her to come down. As for the view there is easily seems the large cleared area Ashepta just left, and lots and lots of 'trees'. In perhaps a few kilometers to the north-west-north of her current position the is a gradual rise in height and what appears to be a drop however it is hard to tell given the nearly omnipresent forest. Zinat was not joking about a lack of penetration into the deeper heart of the forests since the only artificial structures visible are the research complex to Ashepta's south-south-east, which she just left from that vicinity. A good deal of activity appears to be happening around one of the earlier seen transport vessels.

[Mthis]

Ashepta maintains abit of a look of her sorroundings from the top of the tree, glancing slightly towards the activity happening by the transport, to try and see if she can determine anything specific going on with it.

[Joe Joerson]

Various robots, and things which might be robots similar to before but larger and in different design appear to be both offloading and loading up various things onto the transport. The larger robots appear to be taking large, uniform containers off, the smaller ones appear to be loading the vessels with box of varying size and shape. What exactly is happen is hard to tell but anyone familiar with isolated research outposts might surmise that this is a routine supply run, the large containers contain generally needed supplies for research and perhaps a few more luxury items such as specific foods and drinks while the smaller containers being loaded likely contain samples, other materials and possibly some live specimens. This would be a best estimate if one had knowledge or good deduction skills however to be sure one would have to either confirm with one of the parties involved or have an understanding of what various labels on those boxes mean, considering that the are all in one of the Kolesh languages.

Knowing more of the specifics of atmospheric transports one might seen the signs that it is readying for take off, likely packing and unpacking the various containers as a last thing before continuing on whatever route or future purpose it has. Something which may be of mild concern is that while here there have been no visible Xengari in any of this operation and may call into question how many Xengari are actually here in the facility or even if those transports are piloted.

In the corner of her eye Ashepta might see some of the glider creatures spring up from the treeline, gliding towards other locations in the forest as if running away in whichever way is best for each one. A possibly reassuring sign about the intactness of the ecology if the Xengari have allowed predators to roam this close to one of their facilities, though given its purpose this might not be a surprise.

[Mthis]

Ashepta breathes deeply inhaling the air of this world as she tries to get 'comfortable' on top of the tree to try and assume a meditative stance and position.

If thus is achieved safely she will close her eyes and breathe slowly as she tries to sense the very fabric of reality clashing with that of what is beyond, to try and sense any disturbances on this world.

[Joe Joerson]

Maintaining a position of stability is fairly easy at the top 'tree' considering the collective strength of the tendrils makes distributing her weight easy and safe to do, the meditative stance might even help with this distribution of weight.

Soon to find such a disturbance, Ashepta grows close...

[Mthis]

As Ashepta meditates the thinning between the planes of reality soon become clear, as the essence of every living and thinking thing on this world culminates togheter to form a psychich backlash in the planes beyond that of the material, a mirror almost of all the immaterial that is a background reflection of this world and its thoughts.

A Sea of Psychich energies with every thought a bubble culminating togheter, but what Ashepta is looking for isnt mere bubbles that go to the surface of this sea of immaterial energy, rather she is searching for somthing entirely different...A whirlpool in this Sea, and with the currents of this immaterial sea such a thing exsists, but where? Not in the close vicinity of her location but there is indeed such a disturbance in the current of this sea.

Ashepta snaps out of it after a while, was it a while? To her its been mere minutes? Or was it hours? What has it been in the Material world, seconds? Regardless she proceeds to climb down the large tree, determined to contiue her journey further in on this world, but first provisions and transportation must be aquired proper.

[Joe Joerson]

Time may remain elusive for a while, for however long Ashepta was up in the 'tree' the robots have taken the time to surround the location. As she nears the base of the 'tree' she has the opportunity to speak first and possibly put in a request before whatever the robots want is vocalized, alternatively she could simply wait and see what they want before deciding future action.

On her descent none of the earlier glider creatures can be seen.

[Mthis]

Ashepta simply climbs down and observes the robots not exactly sure what to expect from them, but remains silent for now, ensuring all her belongs is on her form and didnt fall durring her climb down.

[Joe Joerson]

One of the robots, a bipedal one, begins speaking not taking particular care to be quiet, causing whatever remaining gliders to flee from the nearby 'trees'.

"Honored Guest Ashepta, citizen of the Septhian Imperium, your presence is needed to receive various equipment."

It would be interesting to see how the Xengari manage to make their robots vary so wildly between informative, and not informative at all.

[Mthis]

Ashepta simply nods to the machines slowly before talking "Very well, lead me to where my presence is required then"

[Joe Joerson]

Surrounded as she was by the robots, Ashepta is marched off inward back towards the complex. Looking now Ashepta might see the departing transport moving off into the distance to wherever it is to be taken, if watched for a sufficient time with a proper sense of these things one might be able to tell that it hasn't been gone for long, however the efficiencies of Xengari robotics in unpacking such a vehicle would greatly affect time from when Ashepta last saw it.

After a while of walking, albeit at a pace that may be uncomfortably fast for one not marching to the same drum the robots are, Ashepta would see the likely final location of this march. An area filled with the smaller hexapedal 'spider' robots the Xengari here seem fond of as well as two small containers possibly containing useful equipment from the Ulwa corporation, likely Ulwa because of the 'interesting' color choices on those containers, easily carry-able by Ashepta. However also apparent in what appears to be the primary reason for a group of robots to chase Ashepta down. What a Xengari would describe as a 'Personal Gravitic Skimmer' but might appear to Ashepta to be a very large open top mass transport. Apart from a few railings on two of the four sides, flimsy looking but likely made of stronger materials than is entirely normal, the elongated bed comes up into a lush looking cushioning as well as the aforementioned railings. In addition there seems to be various engravings or similar impressions into all surfaces of the Skimmer. The only visible means of control appears to be a singular panel.

Aside from the skimmer resting on the ground there are two of the 'spider' robots impressed with similar symbols to the Skimmer, and similar coloring in a kind of Dark greenish-gold color, reflecting light as a metal or shined material might.

The robots begin to lead Ashepta to this location, though she has time to act in between then and now.

[Mthis]

Ashepta looks curiously at the designs and the vehicles, and machinery trying to get a good idea of her sorroundings and their function as she follows the machines leading her.

So far she remains silent as she follows.

[Joe Joerson]

Ashepta arrives, the boxes are put at her feet and then the Robots promptly disperse, excepting the two that seem to be linked to the Skimmer. How to open the boxes might be a bit of a mystery considering they seem to lack any external way of opening. Other than that Ashepta is suddenly vacated from as robots go do others tasks, apparently completed giving Ashepta everything to the extent of their orders. Whether to speak to the two remaining robots or otherwise try to get help, or just leave the equipment there appears to be up to Ashepta.

[Mthis]

Ashepta looks at the boxes....With no idea of how to open them, she looks towards the robots before asking "What do these contain? And their purpose?" she asks that as she points at the boxes

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