Yaru and Pha make the adjustments to the numenera device, and hope they have interpreted the strange runes properly. When Yaru engages the activation controls, a high pitched buzzing noise fills their ears. The noise is perhaps distracting but not painful to their ears. Then they feel sensation of electricity dancing across their skin. They look down to see their feet dissolve. Then the hair on their heads feels like it is rising up. The sensation washes over them proceeding to their middle. Looking at each other they can see the other person vanishing before them, then the world vanishes too. The void rushes by in a swirl of colors to numerous to name, nearly to fast to discern one from the other. Then the world is back, though they are not where they were. ::: Yaru and Pha earn 1XP for discovering the secrets of the teleportation device:::
Yaru and Pha can tell immediately that they are standing at the top of the Spiram, in the "palm" under an open walled thatch roof structure. Walking toward them is Kviet who appears to have just finished her climb as she pants a little from the exertion of effort. A minute later Carrick makes his way to the top. He is strides over looking as though the climb was as simple as a walk in the park.
The area under the thatch canopy is covered with plush rugs and pillows. The area seems perfecty sized to allow all the participants to gather underneath it. When the four have gathered in the center of the palm the Seer reappears outside the hut perched on the end of the finger. He strides toward the gathered youths with a careful and measured step, nearly dancing toward you. Before he gets there Galen and Triat finish their climb. They are scraped and smudged with dirt, but they have made it. :::Galen, lose two Might for the failure to climb. Triat owes me two climb rolls. Failure costs the two Might:::
The Seer stops and waits at the bottom of the finger as more and more participants reach the summit. The breeze up here is chilled, though not unpleasant. It is heavy with the scent of the sea below. The other youths cluster with the other participants that they know in small groups. Once a majority of the people you all saw set forth from the village arrive the Seer approaches. Once under the roof he raises a hand and speaks, "Greetings, all of you are to be commended. You have performed well and should find pride in completing that challenge. Now please be seated. I have much to say and we should all be comfortable while I say it."
He walks over to a pile of cushions and moves one revealing a large box. He taps it and the lid slides off. An shiny metal orb rises up out of the box. It is marked with a black oval, the red light coming from within makes it look like an eye. "Dispense the kaja please, Teekle." The orb spins, rotating vertically, and stops when it's 'eye' is centered again. A fist sized whole appears under the eye and a small translucent white synth cup is extended toward the Seer. He accepts it and then a second arm replaces the first. The second arm has a tube mounted on it and it extrudes an opaque vigorously bubbling blue liquid. The Seer takes his cup and sits on the pile of large cushions next to the box Teekle appeared from. The orb makes its way over to your group first and gives each of you a cup of kaja.
The cup was an even temperature when you first got it, but after the kaja is placed within, it cools rapidly. Teekle must be keeping the drink chilled. The drink is very aromatic smelling of citrus. The smell is also sharp, it causes a tingle in your nose. As the bubbles slightly subside you look at the smooth surface of the beverage and see a dull reflection. Whatever this liquid is made of it absorbs more light than water. The consistency of the liquid seems on par with water. It does not cling or leave a trace of itself on the sides of the cup. The bubbles rise to the surface and pop with an inconsistent but fast pace, where they originate from is a mystery. The flavor of the drink is just as strong as the aroma. You feel a slight burning as the chilled liquid hits your tongue and back of your throat. It is a gentle sensation though, and not something to distress over. The taste of the drink matches the smell, citrus fruits being the primary flavor.
The Seer waits for you all to take a seat before he begins speaking. [b]"It is my duty to inform all of you that a until this point in your lives, you have been deceived. Every person you know who has completed the Rite of Ascension has been lying to you about it's true purpose. This lie was not meant to harm you, but to preserve the innocence of youth. Your parent's and caretakers wanted to allow you what joys and sorrows you might find in your own way, without the burden of the what was believed to be coming in your future."
"You all are aware of the mountains to the south that close this land off from the rest of the world. What you do not know is that high among the clouds and peaks of those mountains live the Timermen. The Timermen are a secretive society, and true masters of this world. Far beyond the southern mountains people call themselves queens, and emperors, and warlords, but all bow to the Timermen in the end. Within their mountain fortresses, the Timermen plot and scheme the fate of all the lands. They control access to the wonders of this world and hoard great and powerful numenera, magic and machines that could sunder the earth and leave it barren and lifeless, or launch us into a new age of discovery like the old worlds of legend. Some among their numbers claim they serve mankind and protect it from itself, but even if that was their original purpose, they have become corrupt and petty in the execution of their office."
"However, the Timermen have enslaved this land. They contained it and kept it to exploit to their own ends. The ancient histories that I maintain here at the Spiram say that in the past it was considered an honor to be chosen to serve them. But as they became more corrupt, tales of depravities and cruelties visited upon our people came back to us. Fewer and fewer of our people chose to serve. But as their indolence grew, so did the demand for more and more servants. When none would come willingly, our masters came to take us forcefully. They brought their most devastating technology against us, it was all we could do to hold on and survive. Once this land was dotted with villages. Thousands of people living lives of peace and relative tranquility. In a few short years we had been reduced to a single aldiea. In the end an accord was reached. The Timermen would come and take their pick of the children most recently come of age, and only those children. A Timerman representative would come to live among the people and serve as The Seer, to record the passage of time and determine who was of age. Annually, a group of Timermen would come to the village and choose who to take as slaves."
"This went on for generations. Then I was chosen from among the Timermen to serve as Seer. I was born in Uncegilla Cove and taken as a servant. Through guile and deceit I was raised to become a member of their society. Once I was promoted high enough, I assassinated the old Seer and managed took his place. Once I became Seer I began to save those that I could from the cruel fate I had suffered. But I could not keep everyone. I decided to save the best and most worthy. Those that failed the test were sent to serve. That all started over 60 years ago."
"Twenty years ago the Timermen seemed to vanish. I lost all contact with them. Even my own transport pad, that young Masters Yaru and Pha found would no longer take me to the fortress. I traveled to the mountains myself and found the foot paths blocked and covered up to make them impassable. For 20 seasons, we have lost none of our youth to the predilections of these tyrants, and it has been wonderful. Still, we, the elders of Uncegilla Cove and myself, have kept the Rite and it's purpose secret, in case the Timermen ever returned." The Seer rises and faces due South. As you all look the mountains peeks can just be seen over the trees. Surrounding them are the same dark storm clouds.
"Those storms are a sign from the Timermen. They have finally returned as I feared they would. I do not know what kept them locked away in their towers for so long, but our time of peace is at an end. I can hide you, all of you, here in the Spiram. You will not suffer at the hands of the Timermen. You will free and prosperous lives of your own choosing. Free of the yoke of pain and torture that I was forced to bare. Your children however will not be so lucky. I had hoped to be the last Seer of Uncegilla Cove. It is likely that the people of the Cove will fight back. They have been left free for to long to just accept the return of the Timermen. I had hoped that the Timermen were gone forever, a wound from a passing age, healed by the passage of time. But it seems my hopes are not to be." Lightning bolts streak out of the clouds surrounding the mountains. The faintest echos of the accompanying thunder reach your ears some time later. The mountains should be to far away, but perhaps the clear, unobstructed air carries the sound further. The deathly quiet that has come upon the gathered youth helps.
"Come, we must get you all into the Spiram to hide you from the Collectors." The Seer gives his cup back to Teekle and the orb makes it disappear into its body. It then begins flying around and plucking the others' cups out of their hands or off the ground beside them. It takes a moment before the first youth moves or says anything. A murmur grows quickly as they turn and ask each other what they should do. Soon they begin to line up.
:::Everyone gets 2XP for making it to the tope of the Spiram and learning the secret history of Uncegilla Cove. You are now free to decide what to do next. You can hide which is what most of the Rite participants are choosing to do, or you can go defend your home and your people. Or something else I haven't considered...whatever makes sense for your character.:::
