Ruins of Xantar

The Ruins of Xantar are a recently discovered archaeological site hidden beneath the shifting sands of the Sulphur Dunes . The ruins are believed to be the remnants of an advanced alien civilization that predates human colonization of Acheron Prime . Large, half-buried structures with strange geometric designs have been uncovered, along with ancient machinery and artifacts made from unknown materials.

The discovery of the Ruins of Xantar has sparked intense interest from both scientific communities and corporations. The potential for uncovering advanced alien technology has drawn adventurers, scientists, and mercenaries to the region. However, the toxic environment and dangerous weather patterns make excavation extremely difficult, and many who venture too deep never return.

Purpose / Function

The Ruins of Xantar, buried deep beneath the treacherous Sulphur Dunes, were once a thriving underground city belonging to a forgotten civilization. While some researchers believe that civilization to be that of the Precursors, others believe it to someone (or something) else entirely. Either way, it was a scientific and industrial hub, designed to harness the rich sulfur and mineral resources in the region. The city was built underground to protect its inhabitants from the harsh surface conditions and to be closer to the valuable resources beneath the planet’s surface.
Xantar was a place of innovation, where advanced mining techniques and energy extraction were developed. The city housed a vast array of laboratories, industrial complexes, and research facilities, which allowed its inhabitants to push the boundaries of science, particularly in the field of energy production and material sciences. Over time, it became a cultural and scientific center, known for its achievements in technology, engineering, and the study of energy and elemental manipulation.

Today, Xantar’s ruins lie forgotten and buried under the sulfuric sands, its technology lost and its purpose long obscured by time. Explorers believe that hidden deep within its crumbling remains are relics of advanced technology, particularly in the realm of energy production—technology that could be worth a fortune to those who find it.

Architecture

The architecture of the Ruins of Xantar reflects the once-great civilization’s mastery over engineering and their focus on function and protection from the harsh environment above. Built entirely underground, the city features a labyrinth of chambers, tunnels, and towering industrial complexes.

• Material: The city was constructed using a unique blend of highly durable alloys and volcanic stone, mined from the planet’s crust. These materials were chosen for their resilience to the toxic conditions of the surrounding sulfur deposits and the volatile geothermal activity beneath the surface. Despite the passage of time, much of Xantar’s structures remain intact, protected from the harsh elements above.
• Design Style: The city’s architecture is a combination of brutalism and utilitarianism, with towering industrial structures, large support pillars, and expansive underground chambers. The walls are smooth, reinforced with alloy frames, and adorned with simple but elegant geometric patterns that reflect the civilization’s reverence for symmetry and precision. The underground chambers are vast, designed to accommodate large-scale industrial operations and massive energy production facilities.
• Adornments: Although the city was primarily utilitarian, the main buildings were adorned with murals and reliefs depicting energy flows, celestial patterns, and abstract forms that symbolized power and technological progress. The central chambers, believed to house the administrative and research facilities, were decorated with rare gems and metals, though many of these have been looted over the centuries by scavengers.

Defenses

Though the Ruins of Xantar have long since been abandoned, remnants of its once-powerful defensive systems still protect parts of the city. These defenses were designed to safeguard the city from external threats, both from rival civilizations and environmental disasters.

• Energy Barriers: Xantar was originally protected by energy barriers that shielded the city’s key entrances and sensitive industrial areas. These barriers could be activated during times of crisis, rendering the city impervious to surface attacks or natural disasters. While most of these systems have degraded over time, explorers have reported that some still intermittently flicker to life in the deeper sections of the ruins.
• Automated Defense Systems: The city was once guarded by a series of automated defense drones and turrets, designed to protect its valuable resources and technology. Though most of these systems have fallen into disrepair, a few remain active, attacking intruders on sight. These systems include energy-based weapons capable of incapacitating or killing anyone attempting to access restricted areas. The deeper one ventures into the ruins, the more dangerous these automated defenses become.
• Traps and Security Measures: Some areas of Xantar are protected by ancient security traps, such as pressure-sensitive floors and hidden energy grids designed to incinerate trespassers. These traps were intended to safeguard the city’s most critical technological secrets, and while many have fallen dormant, enough remain active to pose a serious threat to would-be explorers.

History

The history of Xantar is shrouded in mystery, with few records remaining of the civilization that built it. What is known comes from fragmented archaeological evidence and legends passed down through the ages.

• Founding and Rise: Xantar was founded by an advanced civilization on Acheron Prime, believed to have flourished several millennia before the rise of the planet’s current industrial powers. The city was designed as both a refuge from the harsh surface conditions and a hub for scientific advancement. Its inhabitants were highly skilled engineers, miners, and scientists who developed groundbreaking technologies related to energy production and elemental manipulation. At its peak, Xantar was a bustling metropolis, with a population dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and innovation. The city’s scientists made significant breakthroughs in energy extraction, using the planet’s geothermal activity and rich sulfur deposits to power their machinery and fuel their research. The city’s central energy core, a massive reactor said to harness the elemental forces beneath the planet, was considered one of the greatest achievements of this lost civilization.
  

• Collapse and Abandonment: The collapse of Xantar was sudden and catastrophic, though the exact cause remains unknown. Some historians believe that a catastrophic failure in the city’s energy core led to a massive explosion, causing widespread destruction and forcing the survivors to abandon the city. Others speculate that external forces—perhaps a rival civilization or a natural disaster—may have triggered the city’s downfall. Whatever the cause, the once-great city was buried beneath layers of sulfuric sand over the centuries, forgotten by the world above.
  

• Rediscovery: In recent years, the Ruins of Xantar have been rediscovered by scavengers and corporate interests searching for valuable resources in the Sulphur Dunes. The ruins are considered one of the most dangerous and potentially lucrative sites on Acheron Prime, as the remnants of Xantar’s advanced technology could revolutionize energy production or provide valuable insights into lost engineering techniques. However, only a few explorers have managed to return from the depths of the city, and those who do speak of deadly traps, active defense systems, and strange energy disturbances that suggest the city’s power is not entirely dormant.

Parent Location

Sulphur Dunes