Nereid
"Nereid's a reminder that in the darkest corners of our Solar System, secrets wait to be uncovered. Those alien ruins have brought the universe to our doorstep, and we Neptunians are proud to be stewards of this ancient heritage. The Twisted Men, as our folks call them, have ignited a fire of curiosity within us – and we'll keep digging until we uncover every last secret."
~Sherak "Gimpy" Leviathan, Technocrat of Neptune
Lonely Moon
Nereid, once an unassuming moon, has transformed into a locus of interplanetary fascination. Prior to the discovery of the alien ruins, Terraforming efforts had rendered the moon habitable, but economically and strategically irrelevant. The revelation of extraterrestrial structures has catapulted Nereid to the forefront of scientific inquiry, drawing experts from humanity's most esteemed institutions. As researchers delve into the moon's ancient secrets, Nereid's isolation has given way to a bustling, if somewhat makeshift, community of scholars, engineers, and laborers.Ancient Ruins
The ruins on Nereid defy comprehension, their sheer antiquity challenging humanity's understanding of the universe. Estimated to predate Earth's formation, these structures have been dated to an era when the Solar System was still in its formative stages. The labyrinthine layouts and distorted geometries have sparked intense debate among scientists, with no consensus on the physical appearance or motivations of the builders. Dubbed Senex Peregrinus Sapiens by the scientific community, these enigmatic architects have inspired a plethora of theories, from speculative astrobiology to esoteric cosmologies. As research continues, the ruins remain a mysterious and dangerous enigma, refusing to yield their secrets easily.Twisted Men
Neptunian laborers, tasked with supporting the scientific endeavors on Nereid, have coined a more colloquial term for the mysterious builders: "The Twisted Men." This moniker reflects the unsettling, otherworldly quality of the ruins, which seem to defy human intuition. Workers share tales of disorienting corridors, impossible angles, and eerie silences within the structures. As legends grow around The Twisted Men, they have become an integral part of Nereid's folklore, symbolizing the unknowable, extraterrestrial presence that haunts the moon. This blend of scientific inquiry and popular fascination has cemented Nereid's status as a place of pilgrimage for those seeking answers about humanity's place within the cosmos.
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Planetoid / Moon
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