Hic Sunt Dracones - The Monsters and the Myths
She promised tales of scientific discovery of an unparalleled abundance as the team was to investigate one of the Xyn’s old worlds, a colony that numerous recently discovered records had brought to life. The planet of Pargoen in the Skies of White System, within the hotly contested ‘Troika’s Gambit’.
The delicate political situation, so famed across the Galaxy, is what resulted in the First Speaker opening this venture to the wider cosmos. It is also what caused her to enter her week of forced isolation, as the Xyn public voted almost uniformly against her decision. Solanaceae never made his opinions known, but several Xyn have claimed he defiantly warned that depending on the discovery “every race and their fingers will want what belongs to us.”
With a dire political situation and tensions in the air, nonetheless, the team was assembled. And are ready, of all race and creed, to venture together in an expedition to reclaim a lost world. What secrets will it hold? What is there to rediscover? And what of the Xyn, speculated to live there dormantly?
Information:
Welcome to ‘To Boldly Go’, a scientific exploration, adventure and lore-centred roleplay orienting around a Xyn-led expedition to a former colony in contested space. I will be leading us through the roleplay, which will allow individuals to express their more personal and detailed lore through conversation and observation.
The planet in question, Pargoen, was colonised by the Xyn before their ‘Shroud’ and never had its population reawoken. In fact, it hasn’t been indepthly explored before. A mixture of reasons for this exist: nominally, exploration in the system is viewed as a high-risk political maneuver given that the ‘Skies of White System’ is located within ‘Troika’s Gambit’ (the section of space contested between Humanity, the Drudari and the Xyn.) More concerning reports exist of would be adventurers, prospectors and pirates venturing to Pargoen -- and not returning.
Xyn records show that Pargoen was one of the smaller colonies in Xyn Space, despite the fact it was -- apparently -- colonised fairly early in the younger galaxy. Pargoen’s population never exceeded 2 billion Xyn. It has been described as ‘lush’, ‘tropical’, ‘paradisiacal’ and ‘teeming with life.’ The Mystagogue of the Planet upon entering the ‘Shroud’ was Papaver Somniferum: an Admiral of the Fleet. Long range scans of the planet have not detected sentient life, but in truth, this isn’t as strange as it sounds: dormant Xyn don’t register on this, and would rather correlate with planetary scans registering flora. Much of the planet, probes have reported, is overgrown, with a combination of Xyn ecological-architecture outgrowing its own tended state and combatting itself with the local wildlife.
Asteraceae’s decision to open the expedition to multi-species has earned her ire in the eyes of some of her people. Many expect this grand venture to also be an attempt to distract the public from the allegations against Solan.
Each of the scientists has been briefed about the potential theoretical dangers, but all information as to previous ventures that have gone missing are inconclusive. To that end, in an effort to go as prepared as possible, the scientists have been outfitted with a state of the art science vessel fully equipped with thermal cloaking. Furthermore, much of the incursions reported about or even known about featured large contingents of ships. With strength having failed, it is theorised that being undetectable is the key to success here: ‘quick, quiet and quaint.’ Sworn to secrecy, the scientists also know that their vessel completed an automated descent to the planet for a test of this theory: and it survived.
Because of the nature of the expedition, the following experts are required:
- Xenologist
- Xenoanthropologist
- Biologist/botanical surveyor
- Exogeologist
- Geophysicists/Astrophysicists
- Paleometallurgist
- Archaeologist
- Mechanic/Cyberneticist
In addition, armed guards are required (preferably filled in after we have each scientist.) The Xyn scientist I shall be playing fulfils the role of the Archaeologist -- he is also a historian.
These people, these applicants, should be enthusiastic, bright, innovative minds -- they’re here because they want to, not because they’ve been coerced. Furthermore, the Xyn Government will have vetted anyone who signed up to the programme, so keep that into consideration. In addition to the promise of research, each scientist is also having their expenses covered. Furthermore, they are also supplemented by book deals, system tours, key-note speaker invitations, etc, etc. The guards will be paid.
The ‘Forward Unto Dawn’
The ‘Forward Unto Dawn’, the Xyn Science Vessel, is equipped to comfortably accommodate 18 people. It is regarded as a luxurious vessel, built to inter-galactic necessities rather than Xyn necessities. Xyn have no need for what many might consider necessary, such as a mess-hall. This is not the case here.
The FUD has:
- 18 spacious and fully furnished sleeping quarters, coupled with en-suite bathrooms.
- A mess hall and a kitchen
- A ‘Xyn garden’
- 3 recreational areas
- An armoury
- A vehicle and shuttle bay, outfitted with numerous all-terrain vehicles and a shuttle.
- 8 modular laboratories: often resembling massive cargo containers, these rooms are designed to contain equipment and supplies necessary to conduct research into specific scientific areas, from autopsies to geophysical surveys, and much more. Their modular nature allow science vessels to rapidly swap their complement in order to maintain a suite of equipment best suited for their current mission. Additionally, most of these containers are able to be deployed planet-side for long-term missions
- A command centre.
- A medical bay.
- A sensory array.
- A communications centre.
- Code: Select all
Application
Name:
Race:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance (picture, if possible):
Occupation (from above):
Relevant Expertise:
Background:
Other noteworthy things:
Notes: There isn’t any necessary reason you should be constrained on what race you wish to play, but it would likely be for the best if you RP’d your own species.
Don't worry about not knowing the field you're making a character in! I'll work with you on the technobabble -- this is all about the characters anyway, not scientific monologues.
The Crew
Daucus Carota, the Archaeologist and Historian
Vraas Tinta Urara Chinyxax, the Paleometallurgist
Rev'an Dhourakxe, the Biologist
Sibble Uisino Widdimur, the 'Esteemed Technician'
Aatvykke do Aatryk tsi'Virhalotratkiil, an Exogeologist
Cawwchiicheezzzt, an Exogeologist
Hayukena Jine-Funa, the Astrophysicist.