sOne Who Points The Way: Hello young one. Welcome to Adonis. : Who are you? The hulky yutto bobs his head to you and speaks to you in a slow, warm tone. One Who Points The Way: My kin call me One Who Points The Way. I suppose I was given this name because I like explaining where travelers can find places they are looking for. Is there anything I can do for you? : Is there any work I can do here? One Who Points The Way: Surely, there are a few of both my kin and yours that would be glad to have some help. I don't know them all by name or where they are at all times, but there is one other Yuttocra close by. He points his staff towards the dark door just across the bridge. One Who Points The Way: Just over that natural bridge and through the door, you will find One Who Greets Wanderers. : What kind of building is that? One Who Points The Way: We believe it is one of the Xan guard houses that used to crown the ancient metropolis we now call Adonis City, but we cannot be sure. Maybe One Who Greets Wanderers knows more. : Where can I find a garden statue? One Who Points The Way: There are garden statues not too far from the building just across the bridge, but I will warn you early, young one... There are many dangers lurking in Adonis, many creatures who are feral and without remorse to any travelers. The other of my kin will be able to tell you more. : Where can I find Ergo? One Who Points The Way: The Overseer has a functioning node in this part of the Shadowlands as well, that is correct. Adonis is a diverse place, with scorching deserts, lush and green hills, compact meta water and even ice. Ergo rests far north in Adonis, where the travelers can pass over to the icy hazards of Penumbra. You must go under water and travel north, to a submerged cave made of ice. There, you will find Ergo. : Where can I find a temple? One Who Points The Way: That depends. Which temple are you looking for? : The Redeemed temple. One Who Points The Way: The Redeemed temple built and kept for Redeemed Gilthar can be found on the east brink of the known Adonis. It rests on a broken-up island, only accessible from the mainland via a series of narrow rocks balancing on each other. : Goodbye -- One Who Greets Wanderers: Hello young one. : The yutto by the portal sent me to see you. One Who Greets Wanderers: Oh yes. We serve to help the travellers in these lands. There are many dangers to be aware of, and much history to learn. Those of your kind that cross our paths are usually interested in one or the other, sometimes both. : Perhaps there's something I can help with? One Who Greets Wanderers: How nice of you to ask! Yes, in fact there is. You see, I am feeling somewhat peckish. I have not had much to eat the last few hours, and we yuttocra are fond of food. He laughs a little, a deep and rumbling sound. One Who Greets Wanderers: Right now, I would love some fish bits, but as I can't...as I'm not very fond of the water, perhaps you would catch some for me? : Sure, I'll help. Where do I find fish? One Who Greets Wanderers: Oh lovely! You are most kind, young one. You will find a lock between this building and the pool outside if you continue through this door and straight ahead. There are lots of little Stinger fish there. They make for the most lovely little treats. I shall be waiting here when you come back. : Goodbye One Who Greets Wanderers: Safe travels, young one. We shall follow your progress with interest. -- One Who Greets Wanderers: You are back! : I got you some fish treats. One Who Greets Wanderers: How good of you to bring me these things. I will save them for later. The yutto stuffs the fish treats into a small pouch he carries on his side, and looks back up at you. You sense he's smiling. One Who Greets Wanderers: Thank you very much, young one. I will do what I can to help you in return. This is your first time in Adonis? : Yes, it is. One Who Greets Wanderers: Ooh, there is much to talk to, then. By now, I am sure you have found that there is a lot of bad blood between the Redeemed and Unredeemed. It is deep in history, this place we call Adonis. Now...would you like me to tell you some more, or would you like to continue your travels right away? : Please tell me more! One Who Greets Wanderers: Very well, young one. Settle down, and I will tell you about the beginning of the glorious place we refer to as Adonis. You must understand that the time and names have changed, along with the world itself. The Shadowlands you see before you now is not the same world as it was in the era of the Xan. I'm sure that you will learn more of what happened as you travel here. But...let's start with the beginning. : (Listen to the story) The yutto draws a deep breath and seems to take a moment to find his words. It seems obvious to you that he's told this story many times before. One Who Greets Wanderers: It was here the Xan reached the pinnacle of their civilization, and it is also here that their fall was the most dramatic. After eras of continued evolution, the Xan were the most magnificent creatures in the history of life itself. There was very little they did not know, and their rule of the world was expanding. In terms of time, I would venture to say that they began constructing their largest city not too long after they had discovered and identified the Source. : (Listen to the story) He rocks a little back and forth as he continues to tell you his story. One Who Greets Wanderers: It was to become Adonis, this place they were building. The world has never seen a grander, more magnificent metropolis. It was ripe with power, always expanding and pulsated with life. A majority of the Xan would eventually live there or move there from other parts of the world to settle down, but the great city was not an undertaking that was ever finished. In human years, I would guess it took several thousand years between the time they started building till they...till the end. : (Listen to the story) One Who Greets Wanderers: This building we are standing in now...we are not entirely sure of what it was, but our studies have led us to believe it was built quite late in the city's development to serve as a sort of guard house, or even a gate in to the city. One among many. We also believe it was not completed, as you can still see traces of today. The statue out front, for example. It is clearly not finalized. Perhaps it served as a function to welcome travellers, much like yourself. Perhaps it was simply art. We may never know, young one, but that is one of the thrills of searching history, patching up the pieces we find and understand their story from what we can find today. : I'd like to know more about Adonis City. He chuckles, amused. One Who Greets Wanderers: And so you shall! However, there is as much to see as there is to learn. If you stay here with me, we shall both be old before I am done, and you humans have such short lives. Intense, but short. No, child, I think it is best that you learn more from others in these lands. : What do I do now? One Who Greets Wanderers: You have the choice, child. That is what is so lovely with your people. You are young and full of determination. There is much to see and more to do in Adonis. He nods his massive head and it seems to you that he is content about something. One Who Greets Wanderers: You have three ways out of here. Two roads lead to a garden statue, where you may use those insignias I gave you. But be careful...there are vile dangers lurking close by the doors. The third way out leads through the waters you have already visited. Should you choose to go that direction, you will soon find another of my kind. We call him Fourth Watch Down. : Goodbye One Who Greets Wanderers: Safe travels, young one. We shall follow your progress with interest. -- The yutto holds out his staff, as if to warn you not to walk too far away from where you stand now. Fourth Watch Down: Be careful...this area is infested with spirits of old. : What's with the spirits? Fourth Watch Down: These spirits, like so many other things in Adonis, are remnants...they are ghosts, memories of a time long gone. We believe they are imprints of the souls of the Xan that once lived here. Still here in mind and consciousness, unwilling or unable to let go of the life they had here. Why, you may ask? We can only speculate, but we may never understand how traumatic the end of the Xan was. Perhaps it went so far as to fuse the very souls of the people who lived here in the surroundings. We don't know. : Can you tell me some more about them? Fourth Watch Down: I could, yes. The yutto looks at his staff, then out towards the immediate area. It doesn't seem like he's going to say anything else. : Hello? Are you listening? Fourth Watch Down: Oh! I forgot you were here, young one. I'm sorry. My mind is filled with ideas of what this place once was. Tell you what...why don't you have a look around at the different spirits in this area, at least four of them, and then come back to me. We can talk more then. : Ok, I'll do that. Fourth Watch Down: Very good. I'll be right here, but please...be careful out there. The spirits that remain here are probably not benign. Who can blame them, though... : Goodbye -- He turns to you as you approach him and it seems like he is happy to see you again. Fourth Watch Down: Hello again, young one. : I think I've found four different kinds of spirits. Fourth Watch Down: Very good. I see you came back in one piece as well. I'm glad. While you were away, I tried remembering what I know of the spirits here, and I can tell you some of it now, if you wish. : It's hard not to believe it when you see it so clearly as you do here, though. Fourth Watch Down: This is true, child, but you must also remember that this place, these cursed Shadowlands, are vastly different than your world. In a way, you could say that all living...and non-living things here today are reflections. Reflections of what, I will not say. I think you are clever enough to understand in time. His voice is warm and friendly as he takes a short pause in his explanation. Fourth Watch Down: We assume the spirits here are bound to the city the Xan built here. It was the greatest architectural task the Xan ever undertook. This place is rich in history even in its ruins today. : What can you tell me of the city? Fourth Watch Down: Not too long after the discovery of the Source, the Xan slowly began the construction of their largest city yet. It was to become what you know as Adonis, and history never saw a more beautiful, magnificent place. It was grand, ripe with power, ever expanding and pulsated with life. A majority of the Xan lived there or moved to the city. He cocks his head and looks at you, as if he's trying to figure out how to explain something to you. Fourth Watch Down: In human time, the city was constructed over several thousand years, but it was always expanding and never fully completed. The city itself was built in tiers, with the central region cradling the technology centers and the outer districts the housing areas. With more and more Xan demanding privacy for themselves and their families, the city grew fast and big, hosting masses of people. : Were the Xan fighting at this point? Fourth Watch Down: Fighting, no. Arguing more often and growing more self-centered, yes. Even if the society on a whole had changed, the Xan were still content when they started the construction of Adonis City. There were some disagreements but not too many, although breeding was already out of control as was the use of the Source. Life was growing more personal rather than communal and the rush of technology since the discovery of the Source was somewhat overshadowing the more aesthetic sides of their culture. Still...no one was ever in need. The Xan had all they needed. They cultivated and built to cover needs and wants, and the city grew large and magnificent. It was beyond any beauty describable in any tongue. Vast gardens and recreational areas, glorious avenues and temples so bright and stunning they could be seen from many miles away. : They really do sound magnificent... He nods slowly. Fourth Watch Down: Oh, they were, young one. They truly were. As the children of the Source, they were riding the wave of technology and enlightenment. It is a true shame they did not see that it was a tidal wave they rode. The yutto draws a deep breath before continuing. Fourth Watch Down: The large city was centered on several enormous veins of the volatile energy supplies of the Source, open to the surface, and fed the world with an abundance of the force of life. The city was magnificent indeed, and full of splendor. It stretched between the main veins and the land is still streaked with its trapeze-shaped energy channels. They contained and transferred Source energy in magnetic force fields whose glow illuminated the wondrous city. : So Adonis City was like a big technology hub? Fourth Watch Down: Yes, most certainly. Because of the concentrated Source supplies, they were able to focus its energy and unique abilities better than elsewhere. The city grew into a hub for the marvels of technology that ensued from the use of the Source. New technology, new machines and products saw the light of day here. The Xan further developed the soul patterns and eventually built a library to contain all the knowledge of life they had discovered so far. The library itself was incredibly big. He looks up and seems to draw a pyramid with his staff in the air. Fourth Watch Down: Huge reactors spun the central regions of the city, forever harvesting the energy, distributing it to the massive batteries further out in the continent where it would be refined for use in their technology and, eventually, their daily lives. Shaking his head a little, Fourth Watch Down looks back to you, chuckling warmly. Fourth Watch Down: Oh, but forgive me, young one. I'm talking far too much. Surely, you want to be on your way. : Is there anyone else I can talk to about the Adonis history? Fourth Watch Down: I'm sure that you will learn a lot about the history of Adonis. I will guide you on your way but you must travel with great care. It is not a friendly area by any measure of things. In the north east part of these lands, there is a small village where the Redeemed live, not too far from their temple. Go there and seek out Conserver Gil Gala-Hume. : Goodbye -- The Conserver looks at you and seems to smile. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Welcome to the Outmost Yard. : Fourth Watch Down sent me here to speak with you. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Ah yes, the yuttocra. Quite marvelous little creatures, aren't they? He chuckles warmly. It sounds like a series of wind chimes. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: And yes, he did right in sending you to me. We have need of someone with a sharp eye and a quick foot. : What can I do for you? Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: I am sure you are well aware of the conflict between us and the Unredeemed. It permeates our very existence, and I believe you have seen it up close and personal. Your name is known among us. Once more, we will call on your services. It may be that you leave a bloody trail behind you, but somehow, I do not suspect you care so much about that. The Conserver chuckles again. You find it hard to determine whether it's a gloating kind of chuckle or a gentle one. : I don't mind hunting down and killing prey. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Good! We have need of a certain target among the Unredeemed to disappear. We want you to create a diversion first, to get their attention away from the main target before you go after him. Somewhere around their old, cursed fort would be good. I will give you the details of what we want to do as we see your progress with the diversion. When you have fulfilled your tasks you should come back and see me. : Goodbye Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: The blessing of Gilthar on you throughout your travels in Adonis. May you learn many things and be safe from harm. -- Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: You have returned. : It wasn't clean and tidy, but it's done now. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Very good. We are happy about the progress you have had and our scouts tell us that the target we needed eliminated has left this world. You have done a great service to the Redeemed, . Please take this as a token of gratitude from Gilthar and us, the humble followers. The Conserver gracefully inclines his neck at you. : I was wondering if you could tell me a little about the Xan life in Adonis. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: What? You would want to know about the Xan ancestors? You... He cuts himself short and just looks at you for a little while. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Very well...I will tell you something from the past. Perhaps something your kind can learn from. Settle down and I will tell you about the eternal strife. : (Listen to the story) Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Even before Adonis City was built there had been disagreements among the ancient Xan. Concerned groups who raised questions about what was happening, both to the world and to the people, came into existence. These few eventually built the flow control system that would later become Ergo. The mainframe for this explosively expanding control system was placed in Adonis, but it soon became evident that only one was not enough, so the system was branched off to include massive databanks at the nodes that were spread around the populated world. : (Listen to the story) Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Originally, the system was built to make sure that all the systems and machines got all the Source feed they needed. You must remember that even in all the growing disagreement, the Xan still had one common goal above anything else...to find the answers to their eternal questions. Perhaps we still do, being direct descendants from the ancient ones. He sounds sad for a moment, speaking of the fountain of his heritage. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: The listening devices used extreme amounts of Source material and as the city grew larger, the allover use got more concentrated around this one spot in the known lands. The batteries, the transport tubes, the technology, the increasing creation processes... Everything they did used more and more Source. : So they did nothing but argue anymore? He nods and speaks gently now. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: Oh no, don't get me wrong. While there was growing friction, they were still spiritual beings, as always. The temples saw an even number of devotees within their walls and when another Brace, Gilthar and Dalja, was discovered, it was widely celebrated and thought of as a sign from the Creator that they were still the chosen ones who would eventually sit in the halls of the Divine. : But in such a great society, surely there must have been smaller problems? His voice drops low again and the shimmering beauty of his being seems to flicker, like light sources sometimes do. Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: I am sorry, . This is too difficult to talk about for me. I suggest you find someone else who is not as closely bound to the history here to talk about that. There is a human that lives here in Adonis. He is trying to make a name for himself with you travelers. Perhaps he has something for you? His name is Free. If I remember correctly he usually stays around the old city and suburb ruins. : Goodbye Conserver Gil Gala-Hume: The blessing of Gilthar on you throughout your travels in Adonis. May you learn many things and be safe from harm. -- The man turns towards you with a slick grin and a sly sparkle in his eyes. Scott Free: 'suuuuup? : Err..are you Mr. Free? Scott Free: Tha's right. Scott Free's the name, hacking's the game. He lowers his glasses and takes a good look at you, from head to toe, grinning widely. Scott Free: And I'm very pleased to meetcha, Miss. : Hacking? Can't be much hacking you get to do here... He scratches his head a little and grins sheepishly at you. Scott Free: Yah...you're right about that...but maybe tha's exactly why I'm out here in no-man's land, huh? Ain't easy to find anyone out here, now is it? And even if they did, I'd know they'd be comin' long before they got to me. I got contacts! Dontcha worry your pretty li'l head about me. My name ain't what it is for nothing. He winks at you. : Who are "they"? He shrugs and puts up a boyish smirk. Scott Free: Former employer of mine. A cargo and transport company, one o' the big ones. I was working on one of the galactic cruisers, ten year contract. I just...err...happened to stumble upon the codes to their company credit accounts. One thing led to another, and let's just say that they weren't too happy with the outcome, yeah? Either way, I jumped ship, came to Rubi-Ka and figured that this place would be as safe as any to stay until the storm blew over. So anyway...what can I do you for? : I was told you would know a few things about Adonis. Scott Free: Know a few things? Well, you could say that. See, the night life is a bit on the slow side here in Shadowlands. Not too many places to go dancing and meet lovely ladies like yourself. He winks and gives you what you think is his most charming smile. Scott Free: So, without those things, I've found myself reading a lot, talking to those who live here; the yuttos and the Unredeemed and the Redeemed. There's a lot of interesting stuff just waiting to be found, for those who bother scraping the surface. I'm sure I could tell you a couple of things, but I bet you know the saying "I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine" yeah? : I get it. What do you want me to do? Scott Free: See, I've started collecting a few things while I've lived here. Maybe small stuff on the big scale, but I like doing it. Keeps me from losing my mind of boredom. Right now I'm looking to complete my shard collection. You see... I've discovered that certain spirits that are wandering the city ruins north east of here are energized with something I call recollection shards. These shards carry information that I may be able to extract. I'm a...collector. Yeah. I've figured out where I can find them but haven't actually gotten the final three types yet... If I give you directions, you could perhaps go get'em for me? I'll pay you for the work, maybe throw in a li'l sum'thin sum'thin. : Alright, sounds like a deal. Scott Free: Great! I'm looking for the purple, peach and green recollection shards. If you release the Scintillated Spirit, you may be able to extract the shards before they dissipate. I'll wait here for you, trying to map out the points of interest in these suburb ruins. Later, doll. And thanks! : Goodbye Scott Free: See ya! -- Scott Free: Hey again! : Got your shards. Scott Free: You did? That's awesome, babe! Let me see! Scott Free: Thanks so much for the help. With these, I may be able to decipher where the Xan stored their va-..err..nevermind. He gives you a slick grin and nods. Scott Free: I got plenty of stuff to keep me busy now. See, the Xan didn't use the same kind of information storage as we do. Their technology was so different. The same goes for their security installments and cryptographic systems. These babies may make it a bit more clear for me. : So you're trying to...hack Xan info? Scott Free: I didn't say that. Not at all. Can't a guy be interested in archaeology and culture without being accused of history crime? Sheesh! It's not like I'm the big fish in the Syndicate or anything. : The Syndicate? Scott Free: You don't know what the Adonis Syndicate was? Just the biggest, baddest crime organization that ever hit the Xan. They were, like, the original mafia. He snickers for a moment. Scott Free: They rose to power here, in the decadence and debauchery of this once so marvelous metropolis. In the beginning they weren't too big, nothing I've ever read about them claim they were more than a group of thugs and small time crooks to begin with. But that changed soon enough. : How so? Scott Free: Well, y'see...I'm sure you've heard enough times how grand Adonis city was, how full of life and activity it was. A large portion of the Xan lived in or around here, and they had always been a people who adored entertainment. Adonis was no different. Dance, song, music, theater...gambling. Oh yes...the good ol' Xan weren't too good to gamble. Perhaps not the way we do, and certainly not the same kind of games, but still betting for the big win. The Syndicate started their reign of scheming and manipulating there, running most of the places where the Xan could enjoy all the gambling they could afford. You may wonder about what kind of money they had, or if they had any money at all, being such a god-like people. To tell the truth, I don't know exactly what kind of currency they used if any, but they did have valuables, things they held in very high regard. Like finely crafted art, technological gadgets and stuff like that. Stuff that would be invaluable if found today...kinda like they were those days. His eyes glaze over a little, as if his thoughts are somewhere else. : Didn't the law enforcement stop them? He laughs out loud, sounding truly surprised with your question. Scott Free: Law enforcement? Hahaha...what law enforcement? Hell...what law? No, see...the Xan didn't have such a thing as legislation, law enforcement or even a judicial system. There were no laws other than the norms of society, and those changed all the time, especially in this place. Either way, the Syndicate was just a product of their time. : What do you mean? Scott Free: The good times in Adonis couldn't last forever. The Xan were changing, inevitably moving towards a more greedy society, where the people thought more about how they could make something benefit them personally rather than their civilization on a whole. The increasing strife between the different classes had to bear fruit in shady business some time or another, and from there, the Syndicate rose. Towards the end, not too long before the cataclysm, they were practically running Adonis. There was a recession in Adonis, see. A period of time without much happiness and with a lot of fighting and disagreement. The Syndicate saw this as a golden opportunity to step up and take charge. They had nothin' to hide and nothin' they were ashamed of. : Let me guess...you're looking for a way to walk in their shoes? Scott Free: I ain't sayin' anything this way or that. I'm just a guy trying to find interesting things to do while I wait for things to calm down for me out there. Sure, I'm interested in the Syndicate. Hell, they built some superb technology that us hacking savvy folk find easy to use. They did a lot of stuff and pulled all the right strings, and hell...I ain't saying they were any kind of angels. But then again...who can say they are? : Hey, it's none of my business, heh. He shrugs again and seems to want to avoid talking more about that subject. Scott Free: Let's talk about something else instead. You're traveling this place, you say... Bet you've seen a lot of strange things, huh? : Yeah, it's amazing. Scott Free: I know what you mean. When I first came out here, I was blown away by all the freaky things I saw. But now, I've found my place, kinda. Of course, I won't stay here forever, but I've done well for myself so far. And even so...I still find strange things. For example, have you seen the baratons? No? Didn't think so. Some say that they were originally some sort of pet fad or craze for the socialites in Jobe, but then they grew too big and the brats just threw'em out, like an old shirt. Senseless people! Anyway...You should definitely go check'em out. In fact, I heard about one of them running amok out west. That's not so good, cause it'd chase away the local wildlife, which means that poachers like you and everyone else ain't got anything left to hunt. Can't risk that, now can we... He grins and winks at you. Scott Free: One of my contacts here in Adonis told me they had seen this crazed baraton up north west. Why don't you head up there and check it out, then come back to me. : Goodbye Scott Free: Later! -- Scott Free: Hey again! : Ok, you were right. I hadn't seen that before. He smiles boyishly and nods. Scott Free: Told ya. I gotta tell you, darlin'...you surprised me by doin' that. Such a sweet little thing like you, handing a baraton its rear like that. You certainly deserve this li'l thing. Before you can react, he takes your hand in his and places a light kiss on it, then turns the hand over and places a small package in it before letting you go. : Thanks! Do you have anything else you want me to do? Scott Free: No, not right now. I should get back to studying the shards you got me, but if you're itching to have something to do, you could always find this other guy I've seen skulking around. Says he's an archaeologist. Dr. Koumas or something like that. He's been at a dig site just west of here a while now. : Goodbye Scott Free: Be safe! -- Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Careful! Don't get too close! : Too close to what? Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Oh dear, you didn't hear the ruckus? We've been doing archaeological excavations at this site for a long time, but it's taken much longer than it should have, because we're always forced to fight back the creatures that have taken residence in the ruins. And today, just now, we got into a bit of a pickle. He wrings his hands nervously. : What happened? Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Our team was digging in those ruins back there. He points to the north west part of the ruins. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: We were making some headway, too. Fascinating people, those Xan. Absolutely fascinating. However, we might have struck somewhat too deep, because all of a sudden, we heard nothing but a shattering shriek. Next thing we knew, we were overcome by a group of creatures. They immediately took out the guard group we always bring with us, and then attacked the field researchers. Most of them reclaimed. A few of us were able to get out luckily, but I'm the only one who remains here. The others have left the site already, taking care of some smaller injuries. I would like to say these things never happen, but unfortunately they do, and we can't get back in while those...things are there. : I'll help you out. He looks at you, dumbfounded. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Really? You would help us with this? Well, I'm very grateful indeed! I'm afraid we can't cover any cost you may have or offer you a monetary bounty. The budget of the dig is already strained, and Jobe won't reward us more money... But I am sure I have something else for you, should you succeed. : Sure, no problem. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: That's wonderful news. They are vicious and very aggressive. However, it doesn't seem that they move too far away from the entrance, which they seem to protect. We must have broken into their territory, perhaps their breeding ground. Good luck, friend. Oh, and please be careful? : Goodbye Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Goodbye, friend. And thank you once again. -- Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Good grief, you made it back! : I think I cleared the entrance. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: You did? Marvelous! I must say I'm surprised. You worked fast. Like I said earlier, I can't offer you any payment, but we have found quite a few of these embryos and we have no need for any more of them. Here, I hope it will benefit you. : So what are you doing here anyway? Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Oh, it's very exciting! We have reason to believe that these entrances you see around here were, in fact, hidden doors to and from hidden underground facilities that connected the largest buildings in the city itself. The buildings in mention would arguably be the soulpattern library, the Source center and the flow control mainframe. We suspect some of the buildings also housed the political groups. That would not fall outside the idea that there could be a need for evacuation tunnels, at least. : Wait, what? Political groups? Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Oh yes. The Xan society developed into two paths during their time here in Adonis. One group clearly conservative, and one group clearly liberal. The liberal group argued that the use of the Source was destined for the Xan, that it was part of the Creator's plan for them. They claimed that the changes to the world and the people were not related to the discovery and use of the Source at all, that it was elementary evolution that had no greater symbolism. Instead, they should increase the use of the energy, to evolve even further in hope to reach the answers to the questions that permeated throughout Xan history. : And the conservative group? He smiles as he explains to you. It is obvious that he likes talking about this. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Now, the opposition claimed that on the contrary, the use of the Source was not only destroying the way of life the Xan had known through eons, but also the world. They pointed to all the little cracks in their conception of the world, and how there was absolutely no logical or scientific reason to why these things should happen, apart from their interference with the world and the Creator's work. They predicted a grim future if the use of the Source was not stopped. They wanted to preserve it and only live in its light, not over use it as a resource, fearing the consequences. : That sounds familiar. He nods vigorously. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: It does, doesn't it? Anyway, the groups that formed the conservative and liberal wings were soon joined by smaller, less vocal groups. This all eventually led to the political system that the Xan used. In and of itself, this was not a bad thing. Modern societies eventually develop some sort of political and judicial systems and so also in the Xan society. In earlier times, the Elders had held the only remotely political position, even if they were not a group of Xan who were elected. In Adonis, however, this changed, and a healthy form of democracy evolved. : Democracy is good. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Yes, absolutely. The Xan would send representatives from each of the tiers to the central hub of the city, where they would devote themselves to city planning, religious questions and political venues like the discussion of future technology and the use of the Source. There was no single leader, like a president or prime minister. It could be compared with the ancient Earth senates. There would be local elections of who to send as their representatives and these people would argue the case of each political agenda item. Very basic, but functional. : So what went wrong then? He sighs and looks out throughout the ruins. Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Any great civilization will eventually pass through an era of great transformation. And that was the case with the Xan as well. Of course, it didn't happen over night. Nothing this big does. Their change started with a class system evolving. There had never been any class system in the Xan society, but as their arrogance and struggle for power grew, a slight wedge started growing between the different tiers. The Plebeians, those of the Xan that did most of the manual, everyday work or whose role in society was within the arts, would soon be viewed as less important than the Engineers or Clergy. Following soon after would be the Elders, whose position increasingly lost its significance the more the Xan resisted being governed by a sole group of leaders. Eventually, their role dissipated as the senate took over and people looked to it for guidance and governing instead. The harmonic society where everyone was equal and none held more importance than the other was falling apart. : So they destroyed themselves from within... Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Yes, so it would seem. They were a mighty people, with abilities and technology beyond our grasp of understanding. And yet, in all their greatness, they fell as hard as other civilization. Only, in this case, the world paid the price as well. : What kind of things happened to the world close to the cataclysm? Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Oh, it is too numerous to mention now, I'm afraid. And I really have to get back to work too, now that you have so generously made way for us again. But perhaps you could talk to a Jobe colleague of mine. His name is Dr. Steffensen. He's a marine biologist and he could probably tell you a bit about what consequences the Xan could see in the world around them. He is usually to be found somewhere close to the Lament Lagoon entry points. : Goodbye Dr. Aleksander Koumas: Goodbye, friend. And thank you once again. -- Dr. Marko Steffensen: Hello there! : Are you Dr. Steffensen? Dr. Marko Steffensen: Yes, I certainly am! I must say, you don't look like the ordinary assistants Jobe sends me... He raises a brow and looks you over with a critical eye. : I'm not an assistant from Jobe. Just traveling through the area. Dr. Marko Steffensen: Oh, I see! Well blast it, where is the person Jobe was sending, then? I've been waiting for three days, and my work is getting delayed because of this. I can't handle this workload on my own. There is a reason why I requested an assistant, you know! He sighs, exasperated, and snaps his fingers. : Well, I could help you, maybe? He looks at you and seems to consider the offer. Dr. Marko Steffensen: Yes, maybe you can. I have some tasks that aren't exactly brain teasers, something anyone could do. It would be good to get those out of the way. Tell you what...why don't I upload a task list of some smaller things I need done in the lagoon. I should warn you though, moving in the meta water can be difficult, and some of the sea creatures down there are massive and bite hard. Here's the list. Just get back to me when you're done, and we'll settle for some sort of payment. : Goodbye -- Dr. Marko Steffensen: Hello again! : I'm back. Dr. Marko Steffensen: Yes, I see! All that remains is for you to deliver the three specimens to me. He holds out his hand. He takes the three specimens you have brought with you, smiles at you and looks pleased. Dr. Marko Steffensen: Aha! Most lovely. Here, take these as thanks. I have too many of them. Hopefully you can make use of them. You have saved me quite a bit of time doing that for me. Which is a good thing, because I have another job for you if you have time! : Sure, I can help. Dr. Marko Steffensen: Great! While you were away, I got a message from one of the scouts I have around Adonis, looking for specific creatures. This particular call came from the reclaim station. Apparently, he got into a spot of trouble close to a small island in the lagoon. Something about a type of dryad he hadn't seen before. It attacked and killed him before he could study it closer.. I need you to go there and check it out, see if you can pick up a tissue sample. Be warned though...the scout said that the dryad was pretty territorial. I'll upload the details to your NCU system. : Goodbye -- Dr. Marko Steffensen: Hello again! : I got the tissue sample! Dr. Marko Steffensen: That's great! Please let me have it so I can send it to the lab to analyze it. Dr. Marko Steffensen: This is great! If this sample shows that there is any large difference from this dryad compared to the others here in Adonis, it will bring us a lot closer to understanding the marine life in this place! : Could you tell me about the creatures here in Adonis? Dr. Marko Steffensen: Well... I don't have all the time in the world, but I can tell you a little about some of the species and specialized creatures we're studying. For instance, the blorrg. Marvelous little creature! Marine invertebrates, but unlike many other types of jellyfish you may come across. Studies have shown that these creatures are actually very fast, even if their bodies are not hydrodynamic. Their tentacles are seeded with nematocysts that are kept dormant as long as the blorrg doesn't sense any danger. But, as soon as it feels threatened, it will activate the triggers on the nematocysts and inject its assailant with toxins. Unlike most other jellyfish, the blorrg will act aggressively against any attacker, and not just passively wait for the danger to go away. : Fascinating! Dr. Marko Steffensen: Yes, it is, isn't it? There's also some species here that are now extinct in the wild on Rubi-Ka. The sharks, for instance. Did you know that Rubi-Ka waters used to be infested by sharks. At the peak of their existence, marine biologists counted 142 different species of sharks. As long as there was any kind of moving body of water, they would be there. But something happened in a very short time and they all died out. All but a few that still live in private head quarters aquariums. However, here in Adonis, it's still possible to see sharks in their natural habitat, as you well know from the job you did for me earlier. If it hadn't been for the meta-water dependency, we would have tried to reintroduce sharks to Rubi-Ka. Perhaps some day we'll be able to engineer a different shark species to see these beautiful and perfect predators in the Rubi-Kan waters again. : How about the disgusting parasite? Dr. Marko Steffensen: Well, they are actually a type of koinobiont parasitoids, an organism that spends most of its time attached to a host, draining it while still allowing the host to continue its development. But apart from its less amiable features, it also holds a very important function in the meta-water. It basically serves as the lagoon's waste manager, cleaning up and digesting the waste of most other species there. Not a pleasant job by any measure of things, but it keeps the waters clear. It's also a very agile animal. Most of its body consists of muscles and digestive apparatus, but under its body it has twenty-two pairs of legs that will help it move around swiftly. It's not a pleasant thing to come across, as it can sense a potential host body from a long distance and is very persistent in trying to latch on. But, as all the animals in the lagoon, it's a most remarkable little creature! : Could you tell me what the world was like just before the cataclysm? Dr. Marko Steffensen: Oh, it was most tragic. How the Xan could not see the impact on the eco-systems is beyond me. The world was trembling and visibly breaking up. In more detail, we know that there were several serious earthquakes and landslides. We also know that the actual amount of animals, land and sea both, diminished. Several species became extinct or died as prey to other, larger creatures that weren't native, but rather brought to life through the Xan's experiments with the power of the Source. : What experiments? Dr. Marko Steffensen: You see, the Xan experimented with living beings as well as technology. In their infinite ability to create life and manipulate the Source, they would try to create something living that would have a purpose or function for them, oblivious to the unethical sides of their science. For instance, a creature the Xan called the Comforter was created and kept in a cell, only to be visited by those who wanted someone to talk to so they could feel better about themselves. They would visit the cell and talk about anything between the sky and soil. No subject was too big or too small. The creature would listen, and having been given the gift of speech, it would respond to the visitor's liking. Such a tragic fate for a creature without like... To be created for the sole entertainment of its creators, never given the free life it should have had. He shakes his head angrily. : (Listen to the story) Dr. Marko Steffensen: The creatures we now know as brink monsters had already started seeping through before the cataclysm itself. The line between reality and nightmare was drawing very thin and was in many cases leaking. However, some of these creatures, these abominations, are the first in the genealogical family tree of the creatures we see today. This makes the circumstances around the cataclysm and the time before highly interesting for me and my studies. : It sounds like you really love your job. Dr. Marko Steffensen: And I do! Working here in Shadowlands is an unmatched opportunity to learn about this unique fauna and especially the marine life here. He checks his comlink and chuckles slightly. Dr. Marko Steffensen: And speaking of...I should get back to it. I'd love to talk about my research here and the lagoon animals, but I really must get back to my work. But, if you're interested in meeting a fascinating guy, you should look up one of the yuttos here. His name is One Who Gives Warnings and he's usually to be found around a place called The Hourglass. It's on the north side of the desert in south east Adonis. Be safe on your travels, kid! And with that, he waves to you and turns around, speaking into his comlink about shipping a tissue sample and some other bio-samples to a lab. Soon, he doesn't even seem aware of your presence anymore. : Goodbye -- The yutto turns to you slowly, with heavy movements. You hear him groan just a little bit as he fixes his eyes on you. One Who Gives Warnings: Oh my poor head... : What's wrong? One Who Gives Warnings: It is my own fault, I can only blame my own stupidity. He lifts his hand to his hooded head and whimpers a little. One Who Gives Warnings: I should never have had that last glass... : You're...hungover? One Who Gives Warnings: Yes, I believe that is what your kind calls the wretched feeling of nausea and headache the day after one has had one too many intoxicating drinks. We yuttos do not often drink substances that have no other use than intoxication, but my tribe saw the birth of twins yesterday and this is always a reason to celebrate. We yuttocra celebrate all the life brought to our kind, but twins are good omens, and they are often destined for greatness. Perhaps you have met some of the younger twins of the Scheol and Nascence tribes. However... I celebrated a little too much and now I can't think straight because of my headache. It is hindering my work. : I'll get you some painkillers if you want. One Who Gives Warnings: Painkillers? You mean the chemical remedial your kind uses to treat a painful problem? I thank you, young one, but we yuttocra are creatures of nature. I would not consider chemical pain killers. However, if you were offering to fetch me a remedy of my choosing... : Sure, I'll do that. One Who Gives Warnings: Oh, I thank you with the utmost sincerity, young one. I will not ask you to travel too far, just over to the east side of Adonis, where another of your kind is helping me perform certain tasks. He calls himself Jackson, and he was bringing me the most wonderful herbal mixture last week. I sent him to observe the golems there, but I forgot to get more mixture from him. Please...if you would be so kind as to travel to him and retrieve it... He rubs his head again and whimpers softly. : Goodbye -- The man lies motionless on the ruins, staring intently out towards the golems. : Hi. Are you Jackson Turnfloat? Jackson Turnfloat: Shhhh!! Can't you see I'm on a reconnaissance here?! "Reconnaissance"? Riiight. Seems he's taking his 'undercover' skills a little too serious. Spying on golems isn't exactly highly undercover special agent stuff... : Well, One Who Gives Warnings sent me to see you... He speaks in a hushed tone, still not turning to look at you. Jackson Turnfloat: Yeah? What did the old geezer want? No, lemme guess. He wanted more of his drugs, huh? : Drugs? He said they were painkillers... Jackson Turnfloat: Tomato, tomato, eh? I know people who got addicted to bubblegum, so why not herbal painkillers? Oh well, it's his business, I guess. Anyway, I don't have the mixture on me, only have one of the components. If you want to bring it to him, you have to make it yourself. : Fine, whatever. What do I need? He reaches into his pocket and produces a small, empty vial and a small bag filled with crushed leaves. All the while he doesn't let his eyes wander away from the golems for one second. He sure is persistent. Jackson Turnfloat: Here...take these. You'll need to find some molokh ambra, or ambergris as it's also called. Mix it with the leaves and fill the vial. Voila, you have your yutto 'painkillers'. : How do I find molokh ambergris? Jackson Turnfloat: Well duh. It comes from molokhs. You know, those huge whale-like creatures, floating in the air? They come from their insides, if you catch my drift. How you get it is up to you. There's a few molokhs here in the desert and further up north, by the banks of the lagoon. You shouldn't have a problem finding them. Ambergris is waxy and smells. You'll know when you have it. Now please, for the love of all good...leave me alone! He cracks his neck and stares ahead, as he's done the whole conversation, only this time it doesn't seem like he's willing to talk to you anymore. : Goodbye -- One Who Gives Warnings: Hello again. : Here's your herbal mixture. One Who Gives Warnings: Oh, you are a wonderfully helpful soul, young one. He sounds truly relieved. He opens the container and drinks the contents. It's strange how even when tilting his head back, you're unable to see his face. One Who Gives Warnings: Thank you again. This will help mend my aching head, and I can get back to my tasks. He digs in his robe and pulls out a small, shiny thing. One Who Gives Warnings: Please accept this as a gift and sign of my gratitude. : What do you do? One Who Gives Warnings: I research the changes in the brink creatures here in Adonis. It is vital for my kind to know the numbers of and the alterations of those who would see this land in even worse shape. Lately, I have been studying the hecklers. They are quite fascinating. Appearing to have a physique made of rock, they actually have a very complex internal system. Whether you should call them living beings or not is up to how you percieve the Shadowlands. What it is, how it works and the life...or unlife within. : Ugh...hecklers... One Who Gives Warnings: Oh, I know of your kind's dislike for these creatures, and yes...you are right that they are abominations whose numbers must be kept in check. But nevertheless, they are worth study. Perhaps I could interest you in taking part in this study? Do not worry, young one, for I will not ask you to destroy any of them. There are plenty of vigilant people who keep the heckler numbers in check. : I guess I could help. He bobs his head, seemingly pleased with your offer. One Who Gives Warnings: Very good. Here...take this metamorphic petrology scanner and bring it with you. It will scan a heckler from a distance. The data it will save will tell me about minute changes in the heckler's coating and the heat it generates, which in turn will enable me to check for changes. I need you to find three types of hecklers and one type of golem. I will send you the details. : Goodbye -- One Who Gives Warnings: Did you find them all? : I found all the hecklers and the golem. He claps his hands extatically. One Who Gives Warnings: How wonderful! May I have the scanner, please? He takes the scanner, tucking it away in his robe, not even glancing at it. One Who Gives Warnings: Thank you very much, young one. I will surely have many interesting findings from this. Please accept these three as a payment for your services. It may not be much, but I hope you will find it useful. Now then...you have done me a great service, and in return, I would like to grant you some insight in the lives of those who lived here long before the birth of your kind. : I'd love to hear some more about the Xan. He nods slowly and motions with his free hand. One Who Gives Warnings: Have a seat then, young one. I will tell you of a dark period of the Xan history. It was the time of warning, the time where the Xan could have done something to stop the cataclysm, but chose not to. It is not easy to talk about, knowing only bits and pieces from what we have found in our studies, from what Ergo can help us with and from the stories passed on from our own yuttocra ancestors. : (Listen to the story) One Who Gives Warnings: It was in the days when Adonis' light was diminishing. The great metropolis was ridden with a darkness that her people had never seen before. There was crime, there were fights, there was something so fundamentally changing that some of the Xan had problems seeing their society as the same as it had been in all the ages preceding theirs. Most people would not even notice. You must remember that all of these changes happened over many, many years. Most likely thousands of years, in the way your kind measures time. Yet, in all of this, there was a group of Xan who could see where their civilization and the world were heading. : Who were they? One Who Gives Warnings: They were scientists, researchers, scholars, clergy, engineers, explorers, artists, caretakers... They were every kind of person. They shared a common and very real fear that the world would end. As simple as that. These kinds of people have existed on your home world too. Doomsday prophets, people who would ask others to repent or to suffer the consequences of the end of the world was near. Most of the time, people find them ridiculous and just ignore them. That happened with the Xan too. There is not much mention of them as a co-ordinated group but they were there. : But the problems in the world were very tangible and visible. How could someone deny that? One Who Gives Warnings: Yes, this is true, but the Xan were not a people of open minds. They were intoxicated with the idea of their own divinity. Even if the world was trembling under them, the signs were not big enough for all of them to see the dangers. Either way, these groups of worried Xan implored the rest of the society, begged them to see where their world was heading. Most laughed off these claims and called them ludicrous. They were considered crazy and even shunned for what they alleged. Only some were convinced and joined the choir of concerned voices. It was sadly not enough. : What happened? He sighs and speaks slowly. Suddenly, his shoulders seem heavy, as if he was carrying a burden on them that was too heavy. One Who Gives Warnings: The inevitable. After so long, the world just could not take it anymore. The constant strain on the Source, the technology that bled the world dry and stretched it thin was finally beating it down. By then, it was too late. You must understand, it was not an overnight thing that happened. Even when the Xan finally realised that their world had problems that were impossible to reverse they refused to believe what it meant. They were a people of immense arrogance and belief in their own capabilities and to think that their world was actually coming to an end was an impossible idea for many of them. : So they knew about the cataclysm before it happened? One Who Gives Warnings: Knew about it? Oh, no. Not at all. Once they could see that the consequences were going to be dire, most of them simply believed it would be an era of healing, or that the Braces were punishing them in some way. The majority of them never thought the price they would pay would be so high. : But why did they build the arks, then? One Who Gives Warnings: Oh, the arks are a different part of the story. One that you should hear from one who studies it closer. Find One Who Remembers The Past. He is currently up north, where the ice of Penumbra seeps into the waters of Adonis. He will tell you more. : Goodbye -- One Who Remembers The Past: Knowing the past will strengthen us for the future, young one. : What are you doing here? One Who Remembers The Past: I am here to study the remains of this ark and the Xan who made it. You see, the two political factions would clash acrimoniously on every topic, even when faced with extinction. My studies contend primarily with understanding these differences and how they were tempered through the time of the exodus of the Xan. : That sounds very interesting. Can you tell me more? He nods and beckons you to come closer. One Who Remembers The Past: It would be my honor to tell you more, young one. However, I have heard of your skills and how well you have performed tasks for others of my kin. Perhaps I could ask you the same? : Sure, I'll help. One Who Remembers The Past: I thank you. Yours is truly a remarkable species, so willing to help others. He nods and motions out into the air. One Who Remembers The Past: There is an area close to here, where strange rocks are making formations that could remind you of the rib cage of a creature. Generally, this area is inhabited by Adonis dryads. They are an important part of the eco system here, but recently there have been sightings of several Penumbra bound creatures that do not belong here. They are intruding on the dryads that live up here, bleeding them dry and thinning the packs. I would like you to crop out their numbers a bit. You should find them all around here in the ice, but primarily around the 'rib cage'. : Goodbye One Who Remembers The Past: Travel safely, young one. -- One Who Remembers The Past: You are back. : I took care of it. One Who Remembers The Past: I am thankful, young one. I hope that this small amount of credits will serve as a token of gratitude. Now, if you are ready, I will tell you about the exodus. : Yes, please! He sounds happy that you're eager to listen and learn. One Who Remembers The Past: Like I mentioned earlier, there were no warm feelings among the different factions of Xan. Even then, in the sunset of their existence, when they knew that their biggest chance to survive as a species would be to leave the planet, they did not co-operate. But, let me begin at the beginning. You see...all the fears of those who would warn the rest of an impeding doom, a very profound end to the world, became real. We do not know exactly how their suspicions were proven true, but we may assume that planet core tests, air tests and the increasing volatility of the Source among others finally opened the eyes of those who would doubt. : (Listen to the story) One Who Remembers The Past: By then, Ergo was fully operational, and we have had access to many datalogs with details of what happened. Most of it is gone, lost in the catastrophy following, but what we have is precise. Analysis of the research material showed them that there were major changes to come, changes that could very well threaten their species on a whole, unless they could adapt, or somehow leave their world. Suddenly, all the Xan saw the danger, but even then they bitterly fought over who was to blame. : (Listen to the story) One Who Remembers The Past: It was not like these changes would happen over night, or that the Xan could pinpoint it. Try to think of it how your kind has known for a very long time that one day, the sun will die and with it, all life on the solitus home world Earth and the colonies in that solar system. While it was not that reason alone that drove the old homo solitus to reach out and explore space they certainly found other planets and solar systems where they could settle, away from their fragile, original home. And that is exactly what went through the minds of Xan. Or rather, some of them. Because even in the face of the very real threat of the future, there were some that firmly believed nothing would harm them, that the Braces and the Creator would protect them, their progeny. Fools... He somehow sounds annoyed and sad at the same time. : (Listen to the story) One Who Remembers The Past: In the years to come, the Xan researched space flight. They had never had a need or the curiosity to leave their world, but those who saw the danger in staying for their future generations also saw the need to leave the planet so that their species could somehow survive. They would build magnificent ships and in only a few years learn more about space than your kind has in twenty thousand. In all of this, all their bitterness would shine through, and the two factions would plan their future independent of each other. : What was their plan? One Who Remembers The Past: Plan? We don't know all. Maybe they weren't done planning, when... He sighs. One Who Remembers The Past: We know that they loaded the ships with massive banks of their genetic code, embedded even in the core systems of the ship. We also know that there were several individuals picked out to go on certain ships. By then, the two factions were not on speaking terms at all, and they even stayed clear of one another in the escape routes. The conservatives planned to send their arks one direction and the liberals another. But...none of them would see the completion of their plans. : Because of the cataclysm... One Who Remembers The Past: That's right, young one. Because of the cataclysm. While the majority of the Xan were aware that their world would change to a point where they could no longer live there, none of them expected what happened. It is perhaps something you could learn more of by another of my kin. His name is Mourning Calamity Five. You can find him by the drowning vortex. His voice is warm and friendly when he motions you on your way. : Goodbye One Who Remembers The Past: Travel safely, young one. -- The yutto turns around slowly and looks at you for a few seconds before speaking in a deep barytone voice. Mourning Calamity Five: Hello young one. Have you come to learn about the cataclysm? : Yes...how did you know? His voice has a tone that could be both amused and painful at the same time. It's really odd and makes you think of a piano that is slightly, but only slightly, out of tune. Mourning Calamity Five: That I guess what you're about to say, you mean? Oh young one... I have seen hundreds like you come here, to the edge of the drowning vortex. Some come to ask questions and to learn. Others come to quench their craving for technology that will improve them. Which one are you, I wonder. : I came here to learn. He nods at you and turns around to look at the vortex beyond where you stand. Mourning Calamity Five: I hope I will be able to answer your questions. Surely, you have more of them than I have answers but I shall do my best. I come here every day. Sometimes to think, sometimes to remember and sometimes to go over the seemingly endless amounts of data that Ergo has left us. This place has a certain...weight in these lands. It was once a giant Source vein, opened up to the surface by the Xan. They bled it, emptied it, and for what? It was all in vain, because when the eruption finally happened, they were unprepared. : Could you tell me what you know? Mourning Calamity Five: Yes. I will tell you. I will indulge you with the greatest loss of the Xan civilization and how it it happened. But before I do, I would ask you for one thing, call it a test if you want. : Sure, what is it? Mourning Calamity Five: In the far south of Adonis, there is a series of towers and a gate of sorts. Today, it is surrounded by ruins and spirits, and down below, a small pool of water, for those who would turn back to Scheol. Maybe you know of the place I speak of. On the bridge between these towers resides a creature we call Tagnat. Tagnat is the old Xan word for remorse. We believe it is a spirit that remains in the city, perhaps a corporeal figment of the great shock of the Xan. It dwells there and does not linger. We have tried to come close to it, and we have even removed it a few times, by the graceful help of people like you, but it simply vanishes and then reappears. It is this creature, this illusion of thought, I would have you release. We know little of it, but our hope is that there will come a day when it will be released from whatever keeps it here. Perhaps it will help Adonis heal. : Ok, I'm ready. Mourning Calamity Five: Very good, young one. He waves his staff in the air, in what seems like a deliberate pattern. Mourning Calamity Five: Here. I have revealed a portal to transport you there easily, but know that if you should fall or jump off the edge of the tower, you must return to me once more to be transported there. Return to me when it is done, and we will talk more. This portal will stay up for one and a half minute. Be ready before you step into it. : Goodbye Mourning Calamity Five: Go with a strong mind, young one. Find yourself within yourself and you will one day have all your answers. -- Mourning Calamity Five: It has been done, I can sense it. : Yes, that's right. Mourning Calamity Five: Then I was right to put my trust in you, young one. You have proven an asset to this old and tormented world. As I promised, I have something for you. I hope and think it will prove useful for you. Take good care of it and yourself. Now that you have done me such a service, maybe I can do you one and tell you the story of the cataclysm. : Thank you, I would very much like to hear it. He nods at you and when he begins speaking, this strange and somewhat eerie tone in his voice appears again. He sounds unfathomably sad, yet seems very keen and alert. Mourning Calamity Five: Before I tell you anything, you must understand that what we know of the cataclysm is what we have been able to put together of Ergo's data and what has been recorded by those who survived the fall of the Xan. It may not be accurate and much of the information available vastly contradicts other information. Many things are said between the lines and some things are told using not words but artifacts carrying stories with them. : I understand. Mourning Calamity Five: As you very well know by now, the use and exploitation of the Source had increased over time, reaching a peak here in what we call Adonis. It was here that the Xan found the richest vein of the material, it was here they built their metropolis and it was this place that was punished the most. Even if they knew that the world was under so much pressure that it would wither and die, the use of the Source continued, until one day, the heart was ripped open and the rift split time - and the world - in two. : (Listen to the story) Mourning Calamity Five: Day became night, night became day. Suns, moons, stars and the entire sky spun as the power of the strained Source ripped the world open and tore it inside out. Age had no meaning, everything was living and dead at the same time. Blood rained from the sky and bone grew from the earth. The ripples spread from the center, shredding the tortured land into pieces, but it was in Adonis that it was worst. The vein that cracked was behind me, young one. It was here the center of Xan progress lay in berth. It was here it collapsed, pulling much of the city within, forever to be buried in the toxic meta water we see today. The vortex is still active, albeit much more docile. : What happened to the Xan? He sighs heavily, as if it pains him to tell you this. Mourning Calamity Five: Most of the great, ancient people perished. Most of them lived in or around Adonis by then. They were lost beyond any soul recall, beyond what any pattern could recreate. It was as if they had never existed. Gone forever both in past and future. I can hear you question yourself about the arks. Yes, some were sent. Some were quick enough. The ones who were chosen to go in these magnificent arks they had built had managed to leave the world, their vessels loaded with all the building blocks of their kind . They left in separate directions, as the two disputing factions within the Xan did not work together even to save their kind. : Where did they go? He draws a deep breath, thinking. Mourning Calamity Five: There are questions that simply have no easy answers, that one can struggle to wrap one's mind around or that seem too expanding to comprehend. This is one of them. Did they have a specific goal for their exodus? Were there other worlds the Xan knew about where they would start over again? We know not. We know that they spread these arks on purpose, that there were many ships sent out. To spread their invaluable cargo in random directions is the best and most cost effective way to seed life when there is no explicit target. There are numerous plants and animals who do this in order to procreate, and perhaps that was the intent of the Xan too. Sending hundreds, thousands of arks out into the great unknown, hoping a few would find habitable worlds. Sadly, many ships never left the ground. Many crashed. Many may still be traveling. But, one should think that one...two...found a place habitable enough to begin life anew. The theory is called panspermia. : But some remained, right? Mourning Calamity Five: Yes, indeed. Some survived the cataclysm and were now left with a world that was slashed apart. They were dwindling few and for them, a new era started. They blamed each other for what had happened, and grew apart. In time, they would evolve away from the Xan they had once been, both physically and mentally. They would become blinded by their fanaticism and would no longer hold the power of the Source. It was as if the Creator had punished them with extreme prejudice. Them and the world. Now, they had to build their new lives. Today, we know them as the Redeemed and Unredeemed. He sounds tired now. The words come slowly and his voice is trembling. Mourning Calamity Five: But....theirs is a story of its own, and one I cannot tell you. There are more stories for you to hear, and I am confident you will meet more of my kind some day, perhaps in the icy colds of Penumbra. I wish you good speed and safe journey as you continue to travel Adonis. : Goodbye Mourning Calamity Five: Go with a strong mind, young one. Find yourself within yourself and you will one day have all your answers. --