Apr 19, 2025 1:18 am
OOC:
You all have provisions for a month excursion. There is at least birds to hunt as well.Scene 2: A Doorway to the Heavens
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Apr 19, 2025 7:20 am
Jomsviking says:
The patterns formed a kind of mandala in this room, carved in wave pattern surrounding a black stone in the center. The stonw was well worn, four distinct indentations in the stone faced "east" at the cardinal directions, four seats, East with five steps, west with three steps, south with a single step, and north at ground level.Still, the urge to snap at him, to bark a proper command and get him moving, pulsed just beneath the surface. Instead, she pivoted sharply and strode across the room, boots echoing dully, eyes sweeping up the next flight of stairs to gauge visibility.
"Hello?" she called out brusquely, not expecting a reply but checking the air anyway. She dug into her bag, fingers quick and annoyed, and pulled out a protein bar. She had a bad habit of skipping meals—no wonder her temper was flaring. Maybe some calories would take the edge off.
"Donahue, get up here. Give me your take on this. Duclair, thoughts?" She shot a look back at the scientist, gesturing vaguely through the room before tearing open the wrapper and taking a bite. Then her focus snapped forward again, eyes fixed on the second flight of stairs like they owed her something.
Apr 19, 2025 1:30 pm
Donahue arrives at the room, an eyebrow quirked at Rodriguez's change in tone. He then takes an appraising look at the door and the group that went up.
"Did you break this down all on your own Rodriguez? You're lucky you didn't break something."
He looks at the patterns and indentations of the floor and whistles.
"Weird map. Wonder what it's supposed to lead to."
He then joins Rodriguez at the next set of stairs.
"I'll go with you this time. Let's see what it is that's on the top of this place."
He begins leading the way up.
"Did you break this down all on your own Rodriguez? You're lucky you didn't break something."
He looks at the patterns and indentations of the floor and whistles.
"Weird map. Wonder what it's supposed to lead to."
He then joins Rodriguez at the next set of stairs.
"I'll go with you this time. Let's see what it is that's on the top of this place."
He begins leading the way up.
Apr 20, 2025 3:22 am
Elias head staps forward at Veronica’s change in tone and looks at the pattern trying to decipher it’s meaning.
Rolls
pattern - (d10)
(6) = 6
Apr 20, 2025 4:00 am
Elias isn't sure what exactly the pattern is. Though from his study of various Earth cultures, he can see a distinct similarity to a courtroom or a temple.
As he examined the stone in the center of the room the indentations looked very clearly like impressions from untold thousands of knees. It was reminiscent of a Jovian ritual, Jupiter's stone. A place to swear oaths.
Then there were the seats at the cardinal directions. He saw two concentric circles and two lines at each station. Similar to many of the Earth's own sun cults. This chamber, he got the sense was a place where people were bound by law, swore oaths, married, some place where people could bear witness.
There was yet another floor above.
As he examined the stone in the center of the room the indentations looked very clearly like impressions from untold thousands of knees. It was reminiscent of a Jovian ritual, Jupiter's stone. A place to swear oaths.
Then there were the seats at the cardinal directions. He saw two concentric circles and two lines at each station. Similar to many of the Earth's own sun cults. This chamber, he got the sense was a place where people were bound by law, swore oaths, married, some place where people could bear witness.
There was yet another floor above.
Apr 21, 2025 9:48 am
Upstairs, there was a most curious setup. A Feld series radio had been hacked to pieces by a shovel. The shovel was in remarkably good condition. It was made of the same alloy the door and handcannon was. The radio had corroded nearly to dust, though the pack was still holding what the shovel hadn't destroyed together. Other than the radio, a stool had been fashioned from wood, and a ropeladder had been tied off to the roof. The rope was made of shreds of bakelite plastic the years had not effected it so badly as the other artifacts. Still it was not in perfect order, it lead up to the roof of the humongous fungal dwelling.
Apr 21, 2025 6:11 pm
Rodriguez crouched low beside the battered remnants of the radio pack, eyes narrowing as she scanned the setup like it was a booby-trapped corridor in hostile territory. She tapped one gloved finger against the alloy shovel, the rhythmic clink echoing softly.
"Well, someone didn't like the programme," she muttered, mostly to herself.
Then she stood, all efficient lines and no wasted motion, her gaze sweeping upward to the rope ladder. She clicked her tongue once. "That ladder’s seen better decades," she said flatly. "If we’re going up, someone’s gonna have to check the roof the hard way."
She unhooked her pack and got to work. From one of the side compartments, she pulled a length of high-tensile cord—meant for emergency rappels—and began improvising a harness. Her fingers moved with precision, looping through carabiners, creating pressure-tested knots. It wasn't regulation perfect, but it'd hold.
Rodriguez scanned the interior, her eyes landing on a support beam jutting from the organic curve of the fungus wall—petrified enough to have the strength of steel. She gave it a few sharp raps with her knuckles, then tugged. Solid.
"This’ll do as an anchor." She gave it a hard tug, twice, with a grunt of satisfaction.She turned to Asher then, expression neutral, but the kind of calm that always hinted at sharp things underneath. "We’ve got the gear. I’ll let you decide who climbs," she said. "Either way, we don’t go blind. One of us gets eyes up top. Just hope whoever rigged that ladder wasn’t waiting for visitors."
A sharp pang of hunger twisted through her gut, followed quickly by a wave of exhaustion that settled into her bones. She reached into a side pocket, fingers brushing over familiar foil, and pulled out a half-smashed cereal bar. She bit into it without ceremony, chewing mechanically as her mind stayed elsewhere."Once were reasonably sure this is safe, " she said around a mouthful, finally glancing over at Asher, "I seriously need a brake. Like... sit down, shut up, and not move kind of break."
"Well, someone didn't like the programme," she muttered, mostly to herself.
Then she stood, all efficient lines and no wasted motion, her gaze sweeping upward to the rope ladder. She clicked her tongue once. "That ladder’s seen better decades," she said flatly. "If we’re going up, someone’s gonna have to check the roof the hard way."
She unhooked her pack and got to work. From one of the side compartments, she pulled a length of high-tensile cord—meant for emergency rappels—and began improvising a harness. Her fingers moved with precision, looping through carabiners, creating pressure-tested knots. It wasn't regulation perfect, but it'd hold.
Rodriguez scanned the interior, her eyes landing on a support beam jutting from the organic curve of the fungus wall—petrified enough to have the strength of steel. She gave it a few sharp raps with her knuckles, then tugged. Solid.
"This’ll do as an anchor." She gave it a hard tug, twice, with a grunt of satisfaction.She turned to Asher then, expression neutral, but the kind of calm that always hinted at sharp things underneath. "We’ve got the gear. I’ll let you decide who climbs," she said. "Either way, we don’t go blind. One of us gets eyes up top. Just hope whoever rigged that ladder wasn’t waiting for visitors."
A sharp pang of hunger twisted through her gut, followed quickly by a wave of exhaustion that settled into her bones. She reached into a side pocket, fingers brushing over familiar foil, and pulled out a half-smashed cereal bar. She bit into it without ceremony, chewing mechanically as her mind stayed elsewhere."Once were reasonably sure this is safe, " she said around a mouthful, finally glancing over at Asher, "I seriously need a brake. Like... sit down, shut up, and not move kind of break."
OOC:
hope this makes sense and works out; if something doesn't work, I'll rewrite 😊Last edited April 21, 2025 6:23 pm
Apr 21, 2025 10:31 pm
"It’s a ritual chamber. These inditations sre reminescent of a worship. Reminds me of sects worshipong a sungod.", he says as Veronica raps the beam. This brings him out of his musings.
"I wonder if there are more carvings…". His voice fades off and then he realizes Veronica is talking.
"Break? We could use a break, but maybe after the next chamber? Is it safe to climb?", he says as he sees Veronica’s distress.
"She looks like she could use it. Not surprised, she’s been kicking major butt.", he thinks.
"I wonder if there are more carvings…". His voice fades off and then he realizes Veronica is talking.
"Break? We could use a break, but maybe after the next chamber? Is it safe to climb?", he says as he sees Veronica’s distress.
"She looks like she could use it. Not surprised, she’s been kicking major butt.", he thinks.
Apr 22, 2025 2:21 am
Asher gives a strong pat to Rodriguez's shoulder and nods.
"You definitely deserve a break. I'll be back before you all know it and we can rest away from here."
He side-eyes the radio before heading up. Maybe the people here were hearing the strange music he was hearing still emanating from Rodriguez.
He makes sure he is attached to the anchor before testing the first step of the Bakelite plastic rope ladder. It seems to hold, though barely. To avoid causing too much stress on the ladder, he attempts to go up as fast as possible, focusing on using his arms to pull himself up instead of pushing up with his feet.
"You definitely deserve a break. I'll be back before you all know it and we can rest away from here."
He side-eyes the radio before heading up. Maybe the people here were hearing the strange music he was hearing still emanating from Rodriguez.
He makes sure he is attached to the anchor before testing the first step of the Bakelite plastic rope ladder. It seems to hold, though barely. To avoid causing too much stress on the ladder, he attempts to go up as fast as possible, focusing on using his arms to pull himself up instead of pushing up with his feet.
Apr 30, 2025 9:44 pm
What Asher saw flying from the flagpole made his blood freeze. Though weathered and sunbleached to near white color, the flag was black, with a green stripe running horizontal. Two stylized lightning bolts, and a skull and crossbones. Though he had not seen its likeness in a history book, it was clearly a flag of an SS Expeditionary Unit.
May 1, 2025 1:42 am
Asher's breath catches in his throat as he sees the flag planted on the top of this structure. It explained the gun, the uniforms, and the timeframe.
He calls down to the group below, describing what he sees and what he is sure it represents.
He debates getting closer, but he does so to see if the flagpole is made from the same strange metal they have been finding around the place.
He calls down to the group below, describing what he sees and what he is sure it represents.
He debates getting closer, but he does so to see if the flagpole is made from the same strange metal they have been finding around the place.
May 1, 2025 3:06 am
Asher upon close inspection can see that the pole is indeed made of the same metal alloy. It has remarkably little corrosion.
May 3, 2025 6:11 pm
Asher will get about 3 feet from the edge and go around the circumference, seeing if anything of note on where to explore tomorrow.
May 4, 2025 6:05 pm
(Assuming Asher won't find anything urgent...- otherwise I'll rewrite
Rodriguez stood still for a moment, swaying slightly between the sharp pull of hunger and the heavier weight of exhaustion. She shouldn’t be this drained—not after a standard recon and setup—but something about this planet was off. The air still had a strange smell - although she had gotten used to it and needed to focus for it to register, and the atmosphere felt dense, almost oppressive. She made a mental note: Environmental fatigue? Possible factor. Monitor symptoms in others.
Her gaze swept over the space - their momentary refuge, then drifted back to thinking about the Nazi symbols. So they’d gotten here before the Stargate was shut down. Figures. If the Reich had indeed accessed this world, there might be records—experiments, data, reports. Anything that made it back through the gate could be archived somewhere. The implications were troubling ... and potentially useful.
But first things first.
"Alright," she called out, voice firm but steady. "We're locking down for the night. Perimeter sweep, then watch assignments."
They talked briefly about who's up for first watch, who'd go second and so on, then Veronica pulled out her field communicator and keyed in a transmission to HQ. Her report was crisp, factual: current coordinates, initial conditions, site findings—including the Nazi remnants—and current team status. She ended with a direct request for intel: Any existing records from early gate activity? Any mission updates based on this discovery?
They made quick work of ration prep—nothing fancy, but it was warm. Rodriguez ate without thinking and found her appetite astonishing. Then, finally, she allowed herself to lie back, boots still on, sidearm within reach. Her last thought before sleep took her was a half-formed question about the air again—but it never finished.
Sleep wasn’t restful. It was the hard, absolute kind that comes when a body gives out before the mind is ready—more like slipping into unconsciousness than true rest. But the perimeter was secure, the team alert, and the mission—whatever it was turning into—still on track.
Rodriguez stood still for a moment, swaying slightly between the sharp pull of hunger and the heavier weight of exhaustion. She shouldn’t be this drained—not after a standard recon and setup—but something about this planet was off. The air still had a strange smell - although she had gotten used to it and needed to focus for it to register, and the atmosphere felt dense, almost oppressive. She made a mental note: Environmental fatigue? Possible factor. Monitor symptoms in others.
Her gaze swept over the space - their momentary refuge, then drifted back to thinking about the Nazi symbols. So they’d gotten here before the Stargate was shut down. Figures. If the Reich had indeed accessed this world, there might be records—experiments, data, reports. Anything that made it back through the gate could be archived somewhere. The implications were troubling ... and potentially useful.
But first things first.
"Alright," she called out, voice firm but steady. "We're locking down for the night. Perimeter sweep, then watch assignments."
They talked briefly about who's up for first watch, who'd go second and so on, then Veronica pulled out her field communicator and keyed in a transmission to HQ. Her report was crisp, factual: current coordinates, initial conditions, site findings—including the Nazi remnants—and current team status. She ended with a direct request for intel: Any existing records from early gate activity? Any mission updates based on this discovery?
They made quick work of ration prep—nothing fancy, but it was warm. Rodriguez ate without thinking and found her appetite astonishing. Then, finally, she allowed herself to lie back, boots still on, sidearm within reach. Her last thought before sleep took her was a half-formed question about the air again—but it never finished.
Sleep wasn’t restful. It was the hard, absolute kind that comes when a body gives out before the mind is ready—more like slipping into unconsciousness than true rest. But the perimeter was secure, the team alert, and the mission—whatever it was turning into—still on track.
May 4, 2025 8:50 pm
Elias looks at the fadded flag amd a shiver runs down his spin. When Veronica calls for watches, he says with a quavery voice that gains confidence in the end, "I’ll do first watch.". Veronica’s confidence distracts him from the evidence at hand.
May 12, 2025 10:38 pm
Asher sees quite far from his third story vantage, he reckoned if the slope were similar to Earth he could see about five miles. What he saw when he looked West towards the setting suns was more fruiting bodies of the Prototaxities. A gradual decline formed a basin in the lattice of mushrooms, and filling the basin was a fluid, a deep burnt orange color, with a bluish miasma wafting off of it. This continued west, southwest, and northwest as far as the eye could see. Haze swallowed up visual beyond this, even as he glassed the region.
To the north, and back to the gate he saw grasslands, blue water, an immense body of water. And to the south, volcanic regions, steaming, burning, choking the sky with pyroclast. The Gate was positioned between these natural barriers. It couldn't have been coincidence.
On the shore of the waters he could make out artificial structures. Square and rectangular shapes. A promise of civilization.
To the north, and back to the gate he saw grasslands, blue water, an immense body of water. And to the south, volcanic regions, steaming, burning, choking the sky with pyroclast. The Gate was positioned between these natural barriers. It couldn't have been coincidence.
On the shore of the waters he could make out artificial structures. Square and rectangular shapes. A promise of civilization.
May 13, 2025 12:58 pm
Before they sleep, Asher relays what he saw on the roof and his vote to check the potential civilization he saw by the waters.
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