Expedition Report: V. 10971 Raven's Nest

Purpose

During my exploration of the piece-mealed structure of the Tree, one of the Enlightened named Jamie noticed an odd cluster of stars I had missed. He and a team of researchers spent weeks pouring over the information they had been investigating while I observed the Creation of The Dreadnaught Arelion. Frequently I had to leave my designated post, First Son of Syn, I apologize for defying orders, but this was pressing.

I am invoking my Autonomy Clause to investigate further. Any Orders from the Legion will need to be approved through the Queen of the Fae if orders back into my post conflict with this expedition will be ignored until my return. This is a plausible lead for another of the Shadow's Origin, where they came from, and how they grew. Currently after all this time we only know the Origin of Shadow: Wrath and Shadow: Balance.

Enlightened Jamie has requested to accompany me on this expedition. He was warned that there may be no atmosphere, he was warned that there may still be Vestiges on the planet, he was warned that The Burned are entirely inhospitable to life. He still wished to join me, he wanted to confirm the information he and his researchers observed.

Historical Details

History

A typical report given to the Elsewhere and its command structure as the Scouts patrol and observe The Great Tree at the behest of The Elsewhere. Scouts will use the integrated comms systems built into their Rebreather to communicate information back to the Command in real-time.

Typically these are only observations on what all parties on the Tree are doing. Very rarely to entities like the Riders of the Distant Storm, the Wayfare Guild or the The Sightless act on the information given. Though given a nearly omniscient viewpoint if they do intervene at the behest of the Queen.

In instances like these, where the report is an expedition; the reasons, hows, whys, and context are provided. These are typically for the reason that they pertain to the hunt to find the missing gods or the origins of various arcane properties that were born out of the Dawn of Truths. The Queen has had no influence on the Tree since this event, therefore much of what the Shadows have done is largely unknown to the Elsewhere. Information is what they need if they are to succeed in their plans.

Legacy

This Event had caused The Elsewhere to hunt for more information with a much higher level of Caution. This was the first time a Shadow had appeared while being in it's origin point. Perhaps this was because of the Shadow involved being a far more sentimental one, or it had prepared many layers of protection, it remains unknown.
The problem is now this, The Shadows now knows that the Elsewhere has agents on the Great Tree and that they are activley searching for information. They will be hunted far more as the Shadows want to know where The Elsewhere is. Many of their expeditions now hold a certain level of threat to them.

Read the Document

Expedition Report: V. 10971 Raven's Nest

The low hum of the portal nexus filled the air as we waited until it was ready. As skilled as I am, I cannot move two persons at such a distance, as well as without knowing what is on the other side. The shattered pieces of the world move and flow against each other, held together in space at such a distance is foolish. Some things that are lightyears away are truly only a hairs breadth away in the tangled space of it all. When I can feel the people next to me, they are much farther away in space than they can perceive.

I digress, enough of what we do, My Queen you are far more informed than I, I need not repeat the obvious to you.

Comms interrupt: "Netzet, the Queen would wish you would stop with that. She is well aware she is versed in the structure of the world. Requesting that you stop belittling your efforts, she doesn't like it."

Nexus operational, funneling power into destination. Distant long dark arm of Galaxy No.231, Noted a large cluster of black holes orbiting a much larger body. Unknown origin, seems to be some type of black body radiator. Protected by something, seems like an ordinary planet. Roughly twice the size of this one. Will attempt to identify which Citadel it was when on planet's surface.
Caution: The atmosphere is toxic, predominately sulfur and iron oxide. Heavy ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, a mix of methane/ sulfur/ and nitrogen on the planet's surface. Seems organic in nature, though like all The Burned, the surface is still burned and cracked from Syn's final act. Sulfur content seems to have come from the cracked planet itself. Methane is organic in nature, the bones haven't faded from the world.

Citadel recognition: one of the Brownie homeworlds....

Comms Interrupt: "Netzet? What do you see? Is Enlightened Jamie alright?"

I was born in the elsewhere... I was never given the opportunity to see Vilorlith's Children. They are so small... but I can still feel the power in these bones. Do they all have runes carved into them?

Audible in comms sets: "They were shapeshifters, but yes. They preferred that form, and yes they all have runes on the bones. I'm sorry you had to see this, my son."

Thank you, my Queen.... Teleporting further into Citadel depths. Ruins, answering the earlier question: Yes Jamie is alright. He isn't used to the different gravity, but the rebreather is doing it's job. Vast metropolitan complex, covering most of the planetary surface. Nothing but ruins, nothing but bones. Jamie is going a little white, one moment.
...
...
...
...
Jamie had a panic attack, and was not expecting to see this. First time seeing the devastation from the War. The atmosphere did wonders at preserving the bodies, seems that whatever the influence was here, has made time turn slowly. Some buildings are still burning, no life signs anywhere. Not even microscopic, there is nothing alive on this planet except us. Teleporting deeper into Citadel.
...
Jamie has detected an odd magical pull beneath us. Teleporting deeper. Odd cavern, it's... odd. Covered in incomprehensible gibberish. Languages melded together in a horrid parody. Hold on, whatever was here started to draw on the walls. Wings. Black as night. Claws where it's next thought, a Harpy?
Recording images of cavern walls. Detection warning!: Miasma warning. Jamie activate your wards now. You are far more suseptible to this than me, you are already Shadow Touched, human. The cavern is darker now, we are finding broken eggs. Nothing inside, no bones, nothing to indcate movement at all.
More words on the walls, these are far more coherent. Sun, rebirth, wings, metamorphosis. Beauty. Well, extrapolating that would mean what? The words are repeated over and over each of the eggs the deeper we go. So, with each egg a new metamorphosis, each one a more perfect form?

We are starting to find feathers. I think I may know whose home this was. More words, oh...

Comms interupt: "Report, Netzet."

"I remember now. This world is empty, nothing here. The light of her stars hasn't reached here yet. I can see her light coming. Claws, tore our flesh apart, her violet eyes glowed as she ripped us apart. She was beautiful, beautiful in her fury, as the tears fell from her eyes. Where are my siblings? Where are the other seven."
"I feel lonely, but I see her light now. It bathes this place in her warmth, I want to feel her warmth. I see her in the fire, dancing in the light of the stars. I can almost forget that demon that made me. I can almost forget."
"I can move the dark. I can change the rock around me. The demon's children found my home, they live high above me. They build and build and build. I want to create too, but I can't figure it out. How do they make from nothing? I can only change."
"She is beautiful. Wings like fire, I want wings. Eyes like stars, I want them. She is beautiful, we are the same. Syn. I heard her name, She and the Demon came here. Talking with the demon's children. She is beautiful."
"I hear them, my feathers are prettier than her wings. I want to hold her. I hear you brothers, she did the same to you. I want to sink my talons in her flesh, I want her for myself. Syn. My beautiful sun. I want you."
Warning!: Shadow warning! Power increasing.
Abort, abort. Mayday. Requesting *heavy breathing* extraction.
Abort, mayday! *sounds of stone cracking*
Fuck! We found what this place was, my Queen! Shadow: Raven. Her home was here while she grew in the dark. Abort... Requesting immediate extraction!
"Now where is the fun in that? Why don't you tell me where they are hiding, my sweet."

Comms interrupt: "Extraction in progress, escape Netzet. Try and take Jamie with you. He knows too much."

Easier said than done! Thousands of miles of distance were put between her and us by teleporting and she's still on us! Need to hop to another planet quickly...wow. You can hear her wings through the vacuum of space.

***
Audio cut- Netzet and Jamie extracted to interplanar safezone. Need to hide them from the Shadow for a while. It will be hunting them until it gets bored.

Close

Type

Report, Military

Medium

Digital Recording, Audio

Myth

Origins

Authors

• Gods Eye's: Netzet: Scout Cosmos

Signatories (Characters)

• Gods Eye's: Netzet: Scout Cosmos

Signatories (Organizations)

• The Elsewhere