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May. 12th, 2024 10:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
perfectpower[It's a sleepy planet in the far off reaches of space, one that doesn't even have an official designation yet due to its recent discovery. The people of that planet haven't even developed wide-use electricity yet, much less space travel, so until recently they had been largely ignorant of the politics of space. Aeons, paths, the different factions, it's all very new to the residents of this world. And given their own internal politics, many are reluctant to embrace the stars.
On its own, this planet is rather unassuming. One large continent broken up into 5 distinct countries, along with several chains of islands spread out in the water. There are a few small religions worshipping various gods, but most people just respect the spirits of nature and have a healthy fear of the magic-users that live among them. Thanks to all the magic, technological advancements are slower than usual. Why develop lighting systems when someone can just summon a ball of light? Of course, 'slower' doesn't mean 'stopped'. Eventually this planet would have developed into a more modern society, given a few more centuries. But the sudden appearance of the IPC is sure to jumpstart that.
Why are the IPC here? Well at first it was just a small task force making contact with a previously-dark planet. They do probes like this often, trying to find out if there's anything useful on the planet or if the people are worth bringing into the modern galaxy. It was pretty close to being a write-off, just a stamp of "wait a couple centuries and see what they do", and the planet would have been left alone entirely. But on the last day of evaluation, one of the members of the task force made a discovery that shook the team to its core.
Mana stones.
They didn't know where they came from. Any witch or wizard who they talked to wouldn't reveal their sources for these stones. But mana stones were used to boost the magical ability of a witch or wizard, and to a frightening degree.
One of the task force members put a mana stone the size of their thumb into their ship's energy source. It powered the entire ship for a month.
The promise of a new, compact energy source is too tempting. How could the IPC not jump at this chance? After all, the only ones even using the mana stones were witches and wizards, and they were outnumbered by humans a thousand to one. Powerful as they may be, it would be easy to get the people of this backwater planet to make a deal that would benefit the IPC greatly.
Which is why, at the current time, Aventurine has been sent to this planet. For diplomatic purposes, of course, these things go better if a contract is signed and people agree willingly. Who else would be better to sweet-talk the king and the wizard-prince into making this deal than the IPC's very own gambler?]
On its own, this planet is rather unassuming. One large continent broken up into 5 distinct countries, along with several chains of islands spread out in the water. There are a few small religions worshipping various gods, but most people just respect the spirits of nature and have a healthy fear of the magic-users that live among them. Thanks to all the magic, technological advancements are slower than usual. Why develop lighting systems when someone can just summon a ball of light? Of course, 'slower' doesn't mean 'stopped'. Eventually this planet would have developed into a more modern society, given a few more centuries. But the sudden appearance of the IPC is sure to jumpstart that.
Why are the IPC here? Well at first it was just a small task force making contact with a previously-dark planet. They do probes like this often, trying to find out if there's anything useful on the planet or if the people are worth bringing into the modern galaxy. It was pretty close to being a write-off, just a stamp of "wait a couple centuries and see what they do", and the planet would have been left alone entirely. But on the last day of evaluation, one of the members of the task force made a discovery that shook the team to its core.
Mana stones.
They didn't know where they came from. Any witch or wizard who they talked to wouldn't reveal their sources for these stones. But mana stones were used to boost the magical ability of a witch or wizard, and to a frightening degree.
One of the task force members put a mana stone the size of their thumb into their ship's energy source. It powered the entire ship for a month.
The promise of a new, compact energy source is too tempting. How could the IPC not jump at this chance? After all, the only ones even using the mana stones were witches and wizards, and they were outnumbered by humans a thousand to one. Powerful as they may be, it would be easy to get the people of this backwater planet to make a deal that would benefit the IPC greatly.
Which is why, at the current time, Aventurine has been sent to this planet. For diplomatic purposes, of course, these things go better if a contract is signed and people agree willingly. Who else would be better to sweet-talk the king and the wizard-prince into making this deal than the IPC's very own gambler?]
sorry please don't feel the need to reply after so long aah.
Date: 2024-11-09 12:02 am (UTC)[ that is far larger than Aventurine was expecting, if he's honest. 'Good-sized' is an extreme understatement. He also isn't really sure what to make of this thing, considering it's not exactly the type of magically best he was expecting. She, the idea of a monster made of mechanical parts isn't a new idea, necessarily, but he guesses he was just expecting someone more traditional... like a dragon, maybe? Something that you clearly can kill over maybe having to dismantle? ]
...Can it actually see us somehow, or is it sensing you...?
[ maybe it senses Aventurine, too, but he's not going to assume that especially since he's been doing a good job not making it known he has any capabilities to show off as a pathstrider.
The fact the monster seems to actually contemplate their presence rather than simply attack is also surprising to the Stoneheart— and more than a little concerning. It's it has the restraint to 'think,' that means it could be one of two unsavory situations Aventurine prefers not be part of this encounter:
1. It's a full machine and needs inputs from an outside source to control it and either give it proper command to act on things or it's not capable of being even semi-autonomous and requires a puppeteer at all times.
Neither of these are particularly positive things, as even the first option would mean there is someone or something else that needs to be hunted down.or
2. Its fully autonomous and capable of higher thought where it can assess situations, which makes it a lot more dangerous in dealing with.For the moment, the IPC executive expresses none of this, choosing to simply play dumb and hope both his concerns are not applicable here. Afterall, he still doesn't understand the magic in this place, so it's highly possible this is just a big... golem-like creature, for a lack of a better comparison that just needs to be taken out, no more no less. ]
No worries! I too disappear for long bits of time
Date: 2024-11-23 01:15 am (UTC)[Hang on tight, Aventurine, because Bradley is steering the broom to fly closer. The gears keep turning, and the head of this monster turns ever so slowly to follow the pair as they zip around. Definitely some kind of conscious being, and it seems to be waiting for something.
Brad's keen eyes watch for any changes in the monster's behavior, but so far it seems to be staying still. Hmm.
Eventually, after a couple passes around, Brad pulls back and leaves the two of them hovering in the air at about eye-level compared to the monster.]
Something smells fishy. Usually these things start attacking as soon as anyone shows up.