The Urban Journey: An “Ex Novo” City-building Quest
- Thread starter hessan_yongdi
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[X] The South Point neighborhood
Vote closed
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I decided to go ahead and close voting. I will start working on adding the lab as a resource to the map and writing up a little story about our new creatures. This should be fun. 😊
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Making a Star System
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With some work I am building in the background like calendars and timelines, I need some help setting up some of the cosmology. As we have seen in some examples like Quame and Olpan, the heavens are important for the Nerlekthad culture. Ennead Games has some awesome generators, so while I am working on the next vote response I was thinking we could use one of them to build up the star system.
The first set of rolls we will need is a bunch of d20's. These will decide the number of stars, the types of stars, the number of non-star stellar bodies orbiting the star, and what type of stellar object they are. At the moment in the star system, all we are locked into is the planet, the two moons Olpan and Thekbol, and the planetoid Quame that is orbiting close to the planet.
If anyone has any suggestions about the star system like planets or other stellar phenomenon we could include, please go ahead and post them with your roll!
The first set of rolls we will need is a bunch of d20's. These will decide the number of stars, the types of stars, the number of non-star stellar bodies orbiting the star, and what type of stellar object they are. At the moment in the star system, all we are locked into is the planet, the two moons Olpan and Thekbol, and the planetoid Quame that is orbiting close to the planet.
If anyone has any suggestions about the star system like planets or other stellar phenomenon we could include, please go ahead and post them with your roll!
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
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- Zombie World
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i think we need more than a d20 for this
unless you just mean named stars, in which case i'll roll for that now
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i think we need more than a d20 for this
unless you just mean named stars, in which case i'll roll for that now
Sorry, I was a bit unclear. We are just going to work on this one solar system, not the whole stellar neighborhood. Maybe a project for the future. 😅
Each of the d20 rolls are going to refer to a set of random-generation tables. For example, your roll was to decide the number of stars in the star system based on this table.
| 1-10 | Single Star System |
| 11-18 | Binary Star System |
| 19 | Trinary Star System |
| 18 | Exotic System Arrangement |
I did not include all the tables because I am using a commercially available supplement and not materials of my own creation. I did not want to share their efforts too widely, just like I have not shared a lot of the tables we are using from the Ex Novo game book.
So because we have two stars, the next couple of d20 rolls will decide the type of stars. Once that is determined we will start working on filling out the rest of the star system. Later we may require other dice types, but most of these tables are based around d20s.
Making a Star System part 2
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Thank you for that! That makes us a red giant (M1-III to be specific) and a white dwarf (F0VII).
Now, a white dwarf is the still-hot, dead remnant of a main sequence star. It likely would have sterilized any habitable planets when it shed its outer shell in its final years. Therefore, our planet will be orbiting the red giant with the white dwarf orbiting a number of AU away. It will be quite visible in the sky as a bright star, maybe even during the morning or evening depending on the positions of everything. However, it is not bright or close enough to impact life on the planet in a negative way or be visible
The next set of rolls will decide the number of orbits around our star are occupied and the presence of other stellar elements in the system. For this, we will need a 2d6 and a 2d20.
Please remember that if you have any suggestions for an interesting planet or moon, feel free to do so!
Development Turn #7 - Results part 1
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Development Turn #7 - Results: Part 1
I have decided to take this little story for entry #7 and make it a bit more interactive than some of my other posts, so please enjoy the first part of this mini-quest!
What kind of animal was it? (Pick one)
[] A squirrel
[] A small monkey
[] A lizard
[] A bird
[] (write-in)
What did you do? (Pick one)
[] Report the finding to your faculty advisor at the lab. This is what policy would normally require you do.
[] Observe the organism but stay quiet about it. You don't want anyone taking the credit for this finding.
[] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
I have decided to take this little story for entry #7 and make it a bit more interactive than some of my other posts, so please enjoy the first part of this mini-quest!
| Channo's Lab Journal - Entry #117 |
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| I was at a loss as to what to try next. The lab is in a lull and I had no experiments on my docket. Thinking I would take a break, I went for a quick flight around the grounds. At the lab, we have a botanical garden of sorts that we use to grow sample plants for experiments or cataloguing. That is where our original samples of ethmanek trees and romqupan were planted back in Niyyofi's time. The ethmanek and romqupan in the sample garden have come to be ignored lately. The growing demand for ethmanek and romqupan for experiments and production mean that the staff created a woodlot on the edge of our district for growing those. They don't require care like many other plants in the garden, so the students and researchers normally leave these samples alone. However, the ethmanek is a useful perch for me to go think on. I landed at my usual spot and then clambered up to a convenient sturdy branch to sit. It was there that I found something unusual. A hollow had formed years ago in the trunk of the tree that was occasionally the temporary home for an animal. Today, I noticed that there was an animal in it, but it was visibly dead. |
What kind of animal was it? (Pick one)
[] A squirrel
[] A small monkey
[] A lizard
[] A bird
[] (write-in)
| I was about to remove it when I realized that something very unusual was going on. Mycelium from a piece of a fungus next to the animal had branching out. Apparently, the animal had tried to eat a piece of a romqupan and learned the last lesson of its life. The mycelium had attached themselves to both the corpse and the interior of the hollow. Flitting down to the ground, I decided to make a closer examination of the tree to ensure that the ethmanek was not showing any other signs of illness. I noticed several nodules on the roots of the tree, but that is usual for new growth. I find this intriguing. We have never seen a romqupan colonize another life form before. I am tempted to leave everything as it is just to see what will happen. I will have to consider it. |
What did you do? (Pick one)
[] Report the finding to your faculty advisor at the lab. This is what policy would normally require you do.
[] Observe the organism but stay quiet about it. You don't want anyone taking the credit for this finding.
[] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
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[X] A bird
[X] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
There might be significant religious connotations there or at least something wrong happening to the animal.
[X] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
There might be significant religious connotations there or at least something wrong happening to the animal.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
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- Zombie World
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[X] A bird
[X] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
[X] Ask your friend for advice. She is a Companion of Quame and they know a lot about Ethmanek trees. Maybe she has seen something like this in the forests?
Making a Solar System Part 3
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Thank you everyone who participated in the rolls previously. With your starting rolls, I was able to begin on a solar system using a modified generator I have been working on for the last several months inspired by Little Black Books of OG Traveller.
Here is the basic structure of our solar system:
Note: I have not determined any specifics of the planets beyond their size, atmospheres,and hydrology. Other characteristics like colors or rotational speeds/tidal locking have not been decided.
Here is the basic structure of our solar system:
Orbit | Type | Description |
| Center | Star A | (M-1-III) This star is a red giant |
| 1 | This orbit is empty due to the intense heat from the red giant | |
| 2 | Asteroid Field | This is a sparse ring of debris. |
| 3 | a | A cinder planet, this planet is about 80% the size of Earth. It has a single moon about the size of Mars. It has an atmosphere of roughly Earth-like pressures, but I have not yet determined its composition. |
| 4 | b | Another hot planet, this one is about 60% the size of Earth. It has a very thin atmosphere. |
| 5 | c | This is a rocky planetoid slightly smaller than Pluto. |
| 6 | Asteroid Field | This is a denser field analogous to the Mars-Jupiter asteroid belt |
| 7 | ||
| 8 | d | This is our planet, though it is currently still unnamed. It is about 80% of Earth. The planet has three moons: Olpan (about the size of the Moon), Thekbol (about the size of Mars), and a third moon about the size of Uranus's moon Oberon (~1,400 km diameter). |
| 9 | e | This is Quame, which is analogous to the dwarf planet Eris. |
| 10 | f | This is a large Gas Giant about 200,000 km in diameter. This makes it a super-Jupiter. It has eight major moons ranging from the size of Enceladus to about 90% of the diameter of Earth. |
| 11 | g | This is a smaller Gas Giant, about the size of Neptune. It has two rings and single moon about the size of Pluto. |
| 12 | ||
| 13 | ||
| 14 | Star B | (F-0-VIII) A white dwarf roughly about the size of Earth. It is far enough away that from the planet it appears to be an particularly bright star rather than a sun. |
Note: I have not determined any specifics of the planets beyond their size, atmospheres,and hydrology. Other characteristics like colors or rotational speeds/tidal locking have not been decided.
- Location
- United States
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[X] A weasel
Slightly concerned with allowing whatever is happening to the animals to infect an avian creature, I'd rather limit the potential spread a bit. Had squirrel intially but I think a weasel could be a fun animal to begin introducing, since it's a bit different but not too far out there I'd say.
[X] Report the finding to your faculty advisor at the lab. This is what policy would normally require you do.
And I believe in proper scientific decorum.
Not really sure what to add to the solar-system currently. Perhaps there are a few larger masses within the asteroid belt (6) that occasionally scatter the light as it reaches our world perhaps creating some strange effect observable by the residents? I don't think that anything would be large enough to really be more than an occasional spot in the sky though. Just sort of spitballing here.
Slightly concerned with allowing whatever is happening to the animals to infect an avian creature, I'd rather limit the potential spread a bit. Had squirrel intially but I think a weasel could be a fun animal to begin introducing, since it's a bit different but not too far out there I'd say.
[X] Report the finding to your faculty advisor at the lab. This is what policy would normally require you do.
And I believe in proper scientific decorum.
Not really sure what to add to the solar-system currently. Perhaps there are a few larger masses within the asteroid belt (6) that occasionally scatter the light as it reaches our world perhaps creating some strange effect observable by the residents? I don't think that anything would be large enough to really be more than an occasional spot in the sky though. Just sort of spitballing here.
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I will leave the vote open for one more day in case one of our other regulars stops by since it is a Saturday.
That is actually pretty cool! Maybe there is some super-high reflective crystalline or heavily metallic asteroids in the belt that cause an occasional twinkling light just on the dark side of twilight. Might not be visible to the naked eye very often, but it could be to an early telescope.
As for the solar system, I was leaving things open for some recommendations on what the planets might look like or maybe some strange things about them. The pictures in the chart above are just stand-ins from random parts of the internet. Strange colors? Irregular features? Eyeball worlds because the planet is tidally locked to the sun? I mean, Olpan a moon that is brown and green due to a heavily chlorine-based atmosphere with high altitude auroras bright enough some days to be visible around the northern pole from our planet. Come up with something strange and I am sure I can find a way to justify it. 😸
If there are some other things you think we should be able to see in the sky from outside the solar system I would really appreciate those as well. Things like constellations, nebulae, galaxies, or any artificial satellites left over from an extinct civilization that may be visible with the naked eye or with a very primitive telescope.
That is actually pretty cool! Maybe there is some super-high reflective crystalline or heavily metallic asteroids in the belt that cause an occasional twinkling light just on the dark side of twilight. Might not be visible to the naked eye very often, but it could be to an early telescope.
As for the solar system, I was leaving things open for some recommendations on what the planets might look like or maybe some strange things about them. The pictures in the chart above are just stand-ins from random parts of the internet. Strange colors? Irregular features? Eyeball worlds because the planet is tidally locked to the sun? I mean, Olpan a moon that is brown and green due to a heavily chlorine-based atmosphere with high altitude auroras bright enough some days to be visible around the northern pole from our planet. Come up with something strange and I am sure I can find a way to justify it. 😸
If there are some other things you think we should be able to see in the sky from outside the solar system I would really appreciate those as well. Things like constellations, nebulae, galaxies, or any artificial satellites left over from an extinct civilization that may be visible with the naked eye or with a very primitive telescope.
Vote closed
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I will get working on this and hope to have a post for you soon!
Development #7 – Results Part 2
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| Channo's Lab Journal – Entry 118 I was able to contact someone at the Companions of Quame and arrange for a meeting today. The Companions have been dealing with the trees on a regular basis since before the Convocation. I hope they may have some more insight. I examined the ethmanek before I departed. While the fungus had become more densely spread in the hollow, there were not significant changes in the body of the bird within. One or two of the nodules I had noticed previously in the root system have expanded, but not out of the ordinary for such an old tree. I must say my trip to the shrine was refreshing. I had not seen Olla in a while... |
Earlier that day...
Channo flipped xer wingtips back to settle into a better position on his perch. Many human houses in Cradle's Rest featured at least one or two chairs with perching rods on the back or arm to act as multipurpose pieces of furniture. Channo's friend, being a resident of the main shrine to Quame, had a dedicated perch for feathered guests in her office and quite a nice one at that. Xe relaxed and flexed xer feet, enjoying the feeling of the soft, heavy fabric under xer toes that protected the wood.
A double knock of a special pattern before the latch of the door opened told xem that Olla was entering, a courtesy since the gust and surprise caused by a quickly opened door could unbalance a chashof. Channo let out a soft chirp and bobbed xer head several times in thanks and greeting as the middle-aged human woman entered.
Olla wore the mantle of a Councilor well, though her age was starting to show in her face. Her straight hair, worn at shoulder length, had changed from its original light brown to a cerulean blue since xe had last seen her. Xe did not understand why, but this color change seemed to mark a Companion that had met some rank in the mystery cult. Humans could be so strange about their coloration and plumage, Nerlekthadi in particular.
Olla settled into her couch with a sigh. The silence stretched on as she glanced over some papers that had been left out on her table, shuffling and placing them onto marked trays. Channo recognized this sign of her irritation, but xe was not sure if it was with xer or someone else.
At last, Olla placed the last paper, sighed again, and then looked across the table at the chashof. "So, what finally pulled you out of your lab?"
Qumol's hairy feet, Channo silently rued, it is me!
Xer feather crest wilted at the thought as xe let out a mournful, falling trill. Olla's face grew pensive at the sound, but Channo rallied. "I am sorry. They have been pushing us to refine the dying process…"
"… and with raw ethmanek they need every Ra'a-el to help for safety's sake," Olla finished. More cheerfully she continued, "And you have written. Some weeks, one of your cousins drops a letter off more often than I see some of my own spouses!"
Her mirth broke the previous tension. "So, what question brings you to Quame's company?"
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What do you tell her?
[] Be completely honest and mention everything.
[] Just tell her something strange is happening to the ethmanek tree at the lab garden, but try to be discrete.
[] You are having second thoughts.
-[] (write in)
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
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- Zombie World
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[X] Be completely honest and mention everything.
[X] Be completely honest and mention everything.
I see no reason to lie.
I see no reason to lie.
Development Turn #7 - Results Part 3
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Thanks for your reponses, all!
_________
Channo carefully described the situation with the ethmanek tree at the lab garden. The bird, the romqupan, the symptoms the tree was showing.
Olla was quiet throughout the tale and looked away pensively when the Chashof finished. Coming to a decision, she rapped a knuckle on the table before her. "I will not pretend that I understand any of what is occurring, but I know someone who would."
She rang a bell and a door Channo had not noticed to the side opened mere beats later, revealing a neophyte. "Yes, Mistress," the young person asked demurely.
Olla was clearly annoyed by the response. "Katha, we have talked about…" She paused and took a breath. "Never mind. Is the consultation chamber available?"
"It should be."
"Very well then. Prepare it quickly."
The neophyte nodded and left the way that they had come.
Olla stood and came out from behind the table. "I am afraid you are going to have to walk. The building was not designed for Ra'a-el flight in mind." She added in a more subdued tone of voice, "I will explain when we get there. For now, you need to be… unobtrusive."
The walk was not too far even for short legs. They had to cross a courtyard, but no one payed the rare sight of a Chashof in the Companion's wing of the shrine much mind. Olla left him in a receiving chamber, saying that she needed to prepare, and her neophyte Katha would let him in when they were ready.
When Katha ushered Channo into the chamber beyond, xe was surprised. The room was not lit by window or flame, but a blue glow was coming from a large basin arranged behind a lounging chair. Olla had changed from her traditional hunters garb worn by Companions and was now wearing a white shift.
Xe spoke up. "You know, this ritual business even makes those of us Chashof who follow the ways of Quame uncomfortable."
Olla shrugged. "I know, but I am afraid this is the only way to learn more. Actually, everyone has something to learn here. Let's make this a teaching moment. Katha, why are Ra'a-el like Channo here normally unable to join the Companions as a full member?"
"They are immune to the effects of ethmanek. Because of this, they cannot participate in the key rituals needed to fully commune with Quame."
Olla responded, "That is not… entirely true. It is correct that the ritual is needed to connect directly with Quame. However, Quame and I have been working on a method where she can communicate through another. As I undergo the ritual, they will be able to use me as a mouthpiece."
Katha was flabbergasted by this. "Quame… Quame will be here!?"
Channo chattered xer beak in admonishment. The neophyte bowed her head and mimicked an Chashof apologetic trill.
Olla was smiling when she cleared her throat."Yes Katha, you will be able to talk with Quame much earlier than you expected. Now, let us be done. "She reclined back into the chair while Katha helped her lower her hair and the back of her head into the blue glowing basin.
Katha spoke directly to Channo for the first time. "It may take her several minutes to consult with Quame before the Wanderer can grace us with her presence." The neophyte indicated a perch. "For you to rest."
Channo chirped in thanks and flitted up onto the perch. Everything seemed calm, but suddenly, the blue glowing fluid in the basin began to froth and started forming a shape behind Olla's head.
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I am going to stop there for now. We should have one more post to finish the story, but in a moment I will make a preparatory post for Turn #8.
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Channo carefully described the situation with the ethmanek tree at the lab garden. The bird, the romqupan, the symptoms the tree was showing.
Olla was quiet throughout the tale and looked away pensively when the Chashof finished. Coming to a decision, she rapped a knuckle on the table before her. "I will not pretend that I understand any of what is occurring, but I know someone who would."
She rang a bell and a door Channo had not noticed to the side opened mere beats later, revealing a neophyte. "Yes, Mistress," the young person asked demurely.
Olla was clearly annoyed by the response. "Katha, we have talked about…" She paused and took a breath. "Never mind. Is the consultation chamber available?"
"It should be."
"Very well then. Prepare it quickly."
The neophyte nodded and left the way that they had come.
Olla stood and came out from behind the table. "I am afraid you are going to have to walk. The building was not designed for Ra'a-el flight in mind." She added in a more subdued tone of voice, "I will explain when we get there. For now, you need to be… unobtrusive."
The walk was not too far even for short legs. They had to cross a courtyard, but no one payed the rare sight of a Chashof in the Companion's wing of the shrine much mind. Olla left him in a receiving chamber, saying that she needed to prepare, and her neophyte Katha would let him in when they were ready.
When Katha ushered Channo into the chamber beyond, xe was surprised. The room was not lit by window or flame, but a blue glow was coming from a large basin arranged behind a lounging chair. Olla had changed from her traditional hunters garb worn by Companions and was now wearing a white shift.
Xe spoke up. "You know, this ritual business even makes those of us Chashof who follow the ways of Quame uncomfortable."
Olla shrugged. "I know, but I am afraid this is the only way to learn more. Actually, everyone has something to learn here. Let's make this a teaching moment. Katha, why are Ra'a-el like Channo here normally unable to join the Companions as a full member?"
"They are immune to the effects of ethmanek. Because of this, they cannot participate in the key rituals needed to fully commune with Quame."
Olla responded, "That is not… entirely true. It is correct that the ritual is needed to connect directly with Quame. However, Quame and I have been working on a method where she can communicate through another. As I undergo the ritual, they will be able to use me as a mouthpiece."
Katha was flabbergasted by this. "Quame… Quame will be here!?"
Channo chattered xer beak in admonishment. The neophyte bowed her head and mimicked an Chashof apologetic trill.
Olla was smiling when she cleared her throat."Yes Katha, you will be able to talk with Quame much earlier than you expected. Now, let us be done. "She reclined back into the chair while Katha helped her lower her hair and the back of her head into the blue glowing basin.
Katha spoke directly to Channo for the first time. "It may take her several minutes to consult with Quame before the Wanderer can grace us with her presence." The neophyte indicated a perch. "For you to rest."
Channo chirped in thanks and flitted up onto the perch. Everything seemed calm, but suddenly, the blue glowing fluid in the basin began to froth and started forming a shape behind Olla's head.
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I am going to stop there for now. We should have one more post to finish the story, but in a moment I will make a preparatory post for Turn #8.
Development Turn #8 - Roll
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Here is the result for our roll for Turn #8.
I would like to leave this open for some recommendations before we do a vote with the last story post, so please feel free to add some below!
PS: We also need just a couple more dice rolls to finish off the list. Remember, it is a 3d6 if you would like to add it to your recommendation post.
| Development Turn #8 - 423 |
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| A New Social Group Arises A new strata of society is created. A new class of merchants, a caste of undesirables or expatriates binding together. What unites them? => Add a faction |
I would like to leave this open for some recommendations before we do a vote with the last story post, so please feel free to add some below!
PS: We also need just a couple more dice rolls to finish off the list. Remember, it is a 3d6 if you would like to add it to your recommendation post.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
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- Zombie World
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new merchants could have arrived due to the drydocks expanding trade options
we could also have a bunch of day laborers getting together since we needed people to build them in the first place
we could also have a bunch of day laborers getting together since we needed people to build them in the first place
Development Turn #7 - Results Part 4
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Now hopefully the mystery will become clearer with our final entry for turn #7!
__________
The blue fluid shape coalesced into a vague face.
Olla sighed, "This will have to do." Her voice was unusual, with a different accent. The blue mouth's movements roughly matched Olla's voice.
Katha bowed deeply with her hands cupped above her forehead. "Lady Quame," they said breathlessly, "We honored by your presence."
The face seemed to shift slightly, as if looking around to take in the room. Upon facing toward the neophyte, it spoke. "Please, Katha-ul. There is no reason to debase yourself."
It turned toward Channo. "Olla has shared the memories of your conversation with me, Chashof Channo. I…" The deity's voice was now tinged with embarrassment. "I am afraid this was yet another miscalculation of mine. You see, I created the ethmanek to allow the humans to communicate with me. I did not know about your species or the great lichen you call the romqupan."
The face split in two. In its place, a set of shapes looking roughly like a romqupan and an ethmanek tree formed as Quame continued in Olla's voice. "The romqupan is an amazing constellation of lifeforms. It is built around the merger of fungus and algae."
The two images flowed together, forming an ethmanek with portions of its branches and trunks covered with the romqupan's fungal flesh as Quame continued their explanation. "Its ability to cooperate with other life and the special properties of ethmanek are creating a new, adaptive lifeform. The two together will try to mimic the life around them."
As if to illustrate, a Chashof formed standing next to the strange tree. Then a second Chashof emerged from a nodule on the root below the tree.
Quame's blue face returned. "I have extended the reach of my senses far enough to see the new lifeform thanks to the stand of trees your companions planted. The new lifeform will try to reproduce very soon."
The head looked down at Olla's as a blue hand emerged from the basin and brushed her forehead. "There is so much more I wish I could tell you, but Olla is exhausting. Maybe we can talk again sometime Channo. Continue your ungeop, your…. art of learning? The Nerlekthad language is so..."
The fluid dropped back into the basin with a light splash, but Channo was distracted by Olla doubling over in a coughing fit. Katha was already at her side. The Chashof could not hear the neophyte's words, but it was easy to tell Olla was getting a tongue-lashing. Xe couldn't help but snicker.
Olla looked over at her friend ruefully. "Quame was quite adamant that you return to your lab as soon as possible. I would go with you, but..." She shrugged and turned to her assistant, "Katha, please be my eyes. Welcome this new life to the world with Quame's blessing." A smirk crossed Olla's face, "After all, this new being is making Quame a grandparent."
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Channo was frustrated by the trip back. Quame had told xem to hurry, but them Olla had xem bring along a human. Katha was trying their best, but they could not hope to match a flying Chashof. Xe found xemself resentfully flitting above them as they ran toward the lab.
Channo flew over the walls of the lab directly to the courtyard, but Katha still managed to make it to the ethmanek tree at roughly the same time xe did. They both looked over the ethmanek tree in dread.
"There!" Katha pointed to a nodule that Channo had noted was previously. The knot that was forming on the wood had split open and some deep purple sap was slowly dripping out of it. Channo dropped to the ground, looking about. Where is the lifeform? What would it even look like? Like xemself?
That is when xe noticed a birdsong, but it sounded off. It was more like a human mimicking a bird on a reed flute. Turning around, he saw a bird hopping among the other plants. It was the same species of the one that had died in the tree, but its crest was made of purple bark, its body was a mixture of tan wood and the yellow-green of a romqupan's flesh, and those eyes… Those bright blue eyes held more intelligence than any bird Channo had yet met.
It tried to hop into flight but flopped back to the ground when its wings could not take it aloft. So focused it was on Channo, that it tumbled to Katha's feet. Seemingly not realizing the potential danger, the human reached down to right the strange lifeform. Instead, it hopped into their hand, cowering in fear.
"Oh, Quame bless you little one." Katha scratched the creature with a fingertip on the flesh of its neck, which it clearly enjoyed. "Welcome to the world."
Channo only began to realize that xer future was on a new path when, as Katha started to hum a hymn to Quame, the lifeform nestled into their hands and seemingly fell to sleep. "What will you name them, Teacher Channo?"
"I... I think we should name them Mipnok."
Thank you all for reading so far, your rolls, and for your suggestions for the new faction! I hope to have a vote write-up for Turn #8 up for you all by early next week and then later some more information on our new city residents.
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The blue fluid shape coalesced into a vague face.
Olla sighed, "This will have to do." Her voice was unusual, with a different accent. The blue mouth's movements roughly matched Olla's voice.
Katha bowed deeply with her hands cupped above her forehead. "Lady Quame," they said breathlessly, "We honored by your presence."
The face seemed to shift slightly, as if looking around to take in the room. Upon facing toward the neophyte, it spoke. "Please, Katha-ul. There is no reason to debase yourself."
It turned toward Channo. "Olla has shared the memories of your conversation with me, Chashof Channo. I…" The deity's voice was now tinged with embarrassment. "I am afraid this was yet another miscalculation of mine. You see, I created the ethmanek to allow the humans to communicate with me. I did not know about your species or the great lichen you call the romqupan."
The face split in two. In its place, a set of shapes looking roughly like a romqupan and an ethmanek tree formed as Quame continued in Olla's voice. "The romqupan is an amazing constellation of lifeforms. It is built around the merger of fungus and algae."
The two images flowed together, forming an ethmanek with portions of its branches and trunks covered with the romqupan's fungal flesh as Quame continued their explanation. "Its ability to cooperate with other life and the special properties of ethmanek are creating a new, adaptive lifeform. The two together will try to mimic the life around them."
As if to illustrate, a Chashof formed standing next to the strange tree. Then a second Chashof emerged from a nodule on the root below the tree.
Quame's blue face returned. "I have extended the reach of my senses far enough to see the new lifeform thanks to the stand of trees your companions planted. The new lifeform will try to reproduce very soon."
The head looked down at Olla's as a blue hand emerged from the basin and brushed her forehead. "There is so much more I wish I could tell you, but Olla is exhausting. Maybe we can talk again sometime Channo. Continue your ungeop, your…. art of learning? The Nerlekthad language is so..."
The fluid dropped back into the basin with a light splash, but Channo was distracted by Olla doubling over in a coughing fit. Katha was already at her side. The Chashof could not hear the neophyte's words, but it was easy to tell Olla was getting a tongue-lashing. Xe couldn't help but snicker.
Olla looked over at her friend ruefully. "Quame was quite adamant that you return to your lab as soon as possible. I would go with you, but..." She shrugged and turned to her assistant, "Katha, please be my eyes. Welcome this new life to the world with Quame's blessing." A smirk crossed Olla's face, "After all, this new being is making Quame a grandparent."
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Channo was frustrated by the trip back. Quame had told xem to hurry, but them Olla had xem bring along a human. Katha was trying their best, but they could not hope to match a flying Chashof. Xe found xemself resentfully flitting above them as they ran toward the lab.
Channo flew over the walls of the lab directly to the courtyard, but Katha still managed to make it to the ethmanek tree at roughly the same time xe did. They both looked over the ethmanek tree in dread.
"There!" Katha pointed to a nodule that Channo had noted was previously. The knot that was forming on the wood had split open and some deep purple sap was slowly dripping out of it. Channo dropped to the ground, looking about. Where is the lifeform? What would it even look like? Like xemself?
That is when xe noticed a birdsong, but it sounded off. It was more like a human mimicking a bird on a reed flute. Turning around, he saw a bird hopping among the other plants. It was the same species of the one that had died in the tree, but its crest was made of purple bark, its body was a mixture of tan wood and the yellow-green of a romqupan's flesh, and those eyes… Those bright blue eyes held more intelligence than any bird Channo had yet met.
It tried to hop into flight but flopped back to the ground when its wings could not take it aloft. So focused it was on Channo, that it tumbled to Katha's feet. Seemingly not realizing the potential danger, the human reached down to right the strange lifeform. Instead, it hopped into their hand, cowering in fear.
"Oh, Quame bless you little one." Katha scratched the creature with a fingertip on the flesh of its neck, which it clearly enjoyed. "Welcome to the world."
Channo only began to realize that xer future was on a new path when, as Katha started to hum a hymn to Quame, the lifeform nestled into their hands and seemingly fell to sleep. "What will you name them, Teacher Channo?"
"I... I think we should name them Mipnok."
| Channo's Lab Journal – Entry 118 (cont.) I was quite surprised by the response to my inquiry. Quame, through my friend, claims a new life is being created from an accidental merging of the ethmanek and romqupan. It was surprising enough to learn that romqupan is in fact multiple species living together, but to learn of its properties… This could be dangerous if we tinker. The lifeform was already "hatched" by the time we arrived, but had not yet left the garden. It has bonded with Katha and faster than I ever expected. Maybe this is some kind of response to a parent figure? I seem to have gained a new student. In the past, I dreaded such a thing, but Katha possesses a keen mind and is a meticulous note-taker. Olla joined us later and said Quame gave the lifeform a name, but it is something Nerlekthadi can't pronounce. Instead, she and Katha have started to call its species an Emukam. I must remember write my parents that I can't make my holiday trip back to the island nest. We will be quite busy. There are several more nodules on the tree, so Mipnok may be getting some siblings soon. Maybe it is finally time I make a nest of my own here in the city? |
Thank you all for reading so far, your rolls, and for your suggestions for the new faction! I hope to have a vote write-up for Turn #8 up for you all by early next week and then later some more information on our new city residents.