The 12 entries listed here are all that has been recovered from the single volume of Dr Victor's journal which has been found. Given the history of our world, we can surmise some of the later events but the details - alas - have been shrouded in legend.
We have also been unable to locate the "Scientific Notes" to which he refers. Given the amoral approach he seems to have taken to his Science, this is perhaps not a bad thing.
---------------
Only joking!
This blog records the events of Stephen Dowse's " black powder, post apocalyptic, alien invasion, superpowers" Savage Worlds campaign - January through April 2019 - at the Birmingham Central Roleplayers Club.
- Simon Burley 12th April 2019
Friday, April 12, 2019
Entry 12
Entry 12
We have saved the world..... but at what cost to our own futures?
Following the levelling of a mountain range, Methuselah was unable to find anywhere to land. Using his immense piloting skills we entered the crater where once the mountains had stood and hovered at the rim, surveying the land.
We formulated a plan. I was to try to contact the Mole Men mentally and invite them to meet us. Unfortunately, the only place left which was a common frame of reference was the entrance to their underground realm we'd first entered. And there was an alien army between us and it.
We circled carefully away from that army and behind one of the few mountains left. From there we proceeded on food towards the mountain with me constantly sending mental thoughts to the Mole People identifying whatever landmarks I could as possible meeting places.
After a short while, we came across a platoon of the pig creatures. They were near what appeared to be a crashed pig automaton and some kind of erstwhile flying gun platform. They had their helmets off and were non-threatening. Unable to talk directly we communicated by drawing pictures in the sand.
The green humanoid inside the automaton was dead. I used my abilities to re-animate it and bring it out of its suit, whereupon it died immediately in our atmosphere. This seemed to cheer the pig-splices. It seems they were happy that the egg had crashed and they were free from their alien overlords. (They seemed to take it amiss, however, when I suggested they transfer their fealty to me.)
As we continued on in our search for the Mole Folk, the pig-splices followed us and we discovered more downed alien technology and freed pig warriors, who joined us, swelling our numbers.
Eventually, a group of Mole Folk emerged and we discovered - as we'd surmised - that the levelling of the mountains was the result of a last ditch suicidal Mole Folk weapon which had had the effect of downing the aliens' flying technology.
Feeling that the alien ship might now be undefended, we boldly determined to reapproach it in the interests of gaining more intelligence. We asked the Mole Folk to accompany us but they were reluctant to fly. They gave us one of their younger - more belligerent - members, Boris, to join our crew.
Finding the alien ship guarded by a single remaining flying device, we landed, debarked a raiding party and instructed the Belerophon to draw the device away. It was only then that Boris revealed that the ground was riddled with Mole Men tunnels and we hadn't needed to risk our ship in this way.
Using the Tunnels we penetrated the alien ship. Eerie white corridors. Deserted. Presumably the Mole-Folk weapon's effect had reached here as well.
We passed many rooms whose purpose was alien to us. One chamber contained almost two hundred comatose humans, apparently awaiting conversion to pig-splices. I woke one but he was needlessly belligerent and had no information for us - beyond confirming our theories that humans had been harvested by the strange storms for the express purpose of building the aliens' pig army.
Boris then chose to tell us that his people believed the pig-splices, egg-automata, flying gun-ships and other technologies were controlled by beings residing at the heart of the ship. We body determined to head inwards immediately.
Eventually we found a huge room with a silvered dome in the middle. The silvering seemed to be liquid of some kind. Mercury perhaps? I cleared some away and we were able to discern figures sitting in chairs in the middle of the dome. Tyrann was tasked with smashing a way in. He failed. The "Mercury" seemed to act as a defensive and regenerative mechanism.
However, when I used my telekinetic abilities to hold back the covering, Tyrann was able to tear his way in with ease.
Inside the dome were three figures - one black, one blue and one translucent - we could see its internal organs. Though the bodies were normal sized, their heads were immense, supported by specially braced chairs. We immediately set to destroying that bracing but were attacked with overwhelming mental forces. We were all forced to flee except for the brave Tyrann who fought on alone.
By the time I was able to overcome this assault and return, I found that Tyrann had toppled the translucent figure by destroying one of the chair's legs. Unfortunately it was still able to fight on, and seemed to have the ability to strip Tyrann of his abilities and use them against him. He also seemed to be drowning in an air-filled room.
(I later found out that the deviant aliens had mind controlled Methuselah and ordered him to change to fluid form and enter Tyrann's body).
Despite all of this, Tyrann fought on. I don't think I've ever witnessed anything so determined, so heroic.
Seeking to avoid defensive mechanisms, I gently placed my stolen alien energy pistol against the chair of the Black alien and successfully managed to topple it. This distraction allowed Methuselah to free himself from mental control and between him and Tyrann, they finally slew the fallen Translucent being.
I then used my mental abilities to "suggest" a truce to all in the room. I put every ounce of mental effort behind it. Amazingly it worked.
The surviving two aliens mentally informed us that Jah'ruhl - the "saviour" who had brought humanity to this world and created all of the spliced races, was actually a criminal and mass murderer that they were pursuing.
We have agreed to help them hunt him down if they will agree to leave what is left of our world in peace.
We start the hunt tomorrow.
We have saved the world..... but at what cost to our own futures?
Following the levelling of a mountain range, Methuselah was unable to find anywhere to land. Using his immense piloting skills we entered the crater where once the mountains had stood and hovered at the rim, surveying the land.
We formulated a plan. I was to try to contact the Mole Men mentally and invite them to meet us. Unfortunately, the only place left which was a common frame of reference was the entrance to their underground realm we'd first entered. And there was an alien army between us and it.
We circled carefully away from that army and behind one of the few mountains left. From there we proceeded on food towards the mountain with me constantly sending mental thoughts to the Mole People identifying whatever landmarks I could as possible meeting places.
After a short while, we came across a platoon of the pig creatures. They were near what appeared to be a crashed pig automaton and some kind of erstwhile flying gun platform. They had their helmets off and were non-threatening. Unable to talk directly we communicated by drawing pictures in the sand.
The green humanoid inside the automaton was dead. I used my abilities to re-animate it and bring it out of its suit, whereupon it died immediately in our atmosphere. This seemed to cheer the pig-splices. It seems they were happy that the egg had crashed and they were free from their alien overlords. (They seemed to take it amiss, however, when I suggested they transfer their fealty to me.)
As we continued on in our search for the Mole Folk, the pig-splices followed us and we discovered more downed alien technology and freed pig warriors, who joined us, swelling our numbers.
Eventually, a group of Mole Folk emerged and we discovered - as we'd surmised - that the levelling of the mountains was the result of a last ditch suicidal Mole Folk weapon which had had the effect of downing the aliens' flying technology.
Feeling that the alien ship might now be undefended, we boldly determined to reapproach it in the interests of gaining more intelligence. We asked the Mole Folk to accompany us but they were reluctant to fly. They gave us one of their younger - more belligerent - members, Boris, to join our crew.
Finding the alien ship guarded by a single remaining flying device, we landed, debarked a raiding party and instructed the Belerophon to draw the device away. It was only then that Boris revealed that the ground was riddled with Mole Men tunnels and we hadn't needed to risk our ship in this way.
Using the Tunnels we penetrated the alien ship. Eerie white corridors. Deserted. Presumably the Mole-Folk weapon's effect had reached here as well.
We passed many rooms whose purpose was alien to us. One chamber contained almost two hundred comatose humans, apparently awaiting conversion to pig-splices. I woke one but he was needlessly belligerent and had no information for us - beyond confirming our theories that humans had been harvested by the strange storms for the express purpose of building the aliens' pig army.
Boris then chose to tell us that his people believed the pig-splices, egg-automata, flying gun-ships and other technologies were controlled by beings residing at the heart of the ship. We body determined to head inwards immediately.
Eventually we found a huge room with a silvered dome in the middle. The silvering seemed to be liquid of some kind. Mercury perhaps? I cleared some away and we were able to discern figures sitting in chairs in the middle of the dome. Tyrann was tasked with smashing a way in. He failed. The "Mercury" seemed to act as a defensive and regenerative mechanism.
However, when I used my telekinetic abilities to hold back the covering, Tyrann was able to tear his way in with ease.
Inside the dome were three figures - one black, one blue and one translucent - we could see its internal organs. Though the bodies were normal sized, their heads were immense, supported by specially braced chairs. We immediately set to destroying that bracing but were attacked with overwhelming mental forces. We were all forced to flee except for the brave Tyrann who fought on alone.
By the time I was able to overcome this assault and return, I found that Tyrann had toppled the translucent figure by destroying one of the chair's legs. Unfortunately it was still able to fight on, and seemed to have the ability to strip Tyrann of his abilities and use them against him. He also seemed to be drowning in an air-filled room.
(I later found out that the deviant aliens had mind controlled Methuselah and ordered him to change to fluid form and enter Tyrann's body).
Despite all of this, Tyrann fought on. I don't think I've ever witnessed anything so determined, so heroic.
Seeking to avoid defensive mechanisms, I gently placed my stolen alien energy pistol against the chair of the Black alien and successfully managed to topple it. This distraction allowed Methuselah to free himself from mental control and between him and Tyrann, they finally slew the fallen Translucent being.
I then used my mental abilities to "suggest" a truce to all in the room. I put every ounce of mental effort behind it. Amazingly it worked.
The surviving two aliens mentally informed us that Jah'ruhl - the "saviour" who had brought humanity to this world and created all of the spliced races, was actually a criminal and mass murderer that they were pursuing.
We have agreed to help them hunt him down if they will agree to leave what is left of our world in peace.
We start the hunt tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Entry 11
Entry 11
Whatever we are evolving into, our new abilities have enabled us to have our first victories against the alien invaders.
Departing, defeated (again!) from the glowing orange orb - which appears to have been the great Shaidar's power source - we resumed our planetary search for answers.
At Methuselah's behest I have begun to seed Damien's food with substances to create the illusion of illness. As he turns to me for healing, the medicines I prescribe will allow me to cure or kill him as required. At the moment, nothing he has reported back to the marvellous King Errald Eccles at Vicereen will cause us any problems, but you never know.
Passing the large crashed metallic alien ship as we regained our course we found the flying eggs joined by even larger objects bedecked with spikes of all sorts. The aliens seem to be bolstering their forces.
We were again attacked by one of the giant egg automata. With no water around my previous tactic was denied. Using my newly developed telekinetic abilities, I threw Tyrann at it, and he literally tore it apart.
What are we becoming?
Investigations showed it to be inhabited by a green humanoid. Not a splice of any kind. Something truly alien. Its lungs were filled with fluid. (I am unable to determine the type with the crude resources at hand.) It has two livers. The heart is located lower down in its chest than in all other life forms on this planet. And it has no vocal chords.
Our flight took us to a town called Jusseya. This seemed to be completely empty - in a way consistent with the pattern of ships and villages being harvested of humanity we have witnessed before.
Whilst investigating the town, we were attacked a force of some dozen pig-headed aliens. Between Tyrann's strength, my mind altering abilities and Methuselah's ability to summon up a tornado (!) they were handily dispatched. I attempted to use my healing ability to re-animate one for questioning and resurrected FIVE!
What HAVE we become?
As expected these pig creatures are splices, like most races on the planet (except for humans). The wedding ring worn by one - in tandem with incongruous tattoos previously witnessed - leads me to suspect that these are recent splices. Could the invading aliens be harvesting the planets' native inhabitants and then converting them, somehow into troops for their invasion?
As we resumed our flight, the ship was rocked by the shockwave of a massive explosion and we were suffused in a orange glow. Another of Hanna's offspring was killed. (They seem to be mightily fragile.) We witnessed the sight of a whole range of some four dozen mountains being levelled.
We are developing the powers of Demi-Gods. But we seem to be up against an opponent with the power of the Gods themselves. What hope to we have to save our planet?
Whatever we are evolving into, our new abilities have enabled us to have our first victories against the alien invaders.
Departing, defeated (again!) from the glowing orange orb - which appears to have been the great Shaidar's power source - we resumed our planetary search for answers.
At Methuselah's behest I have begun to seed Damien's food with substances to create the illusion of illness. As he turns to me for healing, the medicines I prescribe will allow me to cure or kill him as required. At the moment, nothing he has reported back to the marvellous King Errald Eccles at Vicereen will cause us any problems, but you never know.
Passing the large crashed metallic alien ship as we regained our course we found the flying eggs joined by even larger objects bedecked with spikes of all sorts. The aliens seem to be bolstering their forces.
We were again attacked by one of the giant egg automata. With no water around my previous tactic was denied. Using my newly developed telekinetic abilities, I threw Tyrann at it, and he literally tore it apart.
What are we becoming?
Investigations showed it to be inhabited by a green humanoid. Not a splice of any kind. Something truly alien. Its lungs were filled with fluid. (I am unable to determine the type with the crude resources at hand.) It has two livers. The heart is located lower down in its chest than in all other life forms on this planet. And it has no vocal chords.
Our flight took us to a town called Jusseya. This seemed to be completely empty - in a way consistent with the pattern of ships and villages being harvested of humanity we have witnessed before.
Whilst investigating the town, we were attacked a force of some dozen pig-headed aliens. Between Tyrann's strength, my mind altering abilities and Methuselah's ability to summon up a tornado (!) they were handily dispatched. I attempted to use my healing ability to re-animate one for questioning and resurrected FIVE!
What HAVE we become?
As expected these pig creatures are splices, like most races on the planet (except for humans). The wedding ring worn by one - in tandem with incongruous tattoos previously witnessed - leads me to suspect that these are recent splices. Could the invading aliens be harvesting the planets' native inhabitants and then converting them, somehow into troops for their invasion?
As we resumed our flight, the ship was rocked by the shockwave of a massive explosion and we were suffused in a orange glow. Another of Hanna's offspring was killed. (They seem to be mightily fragile.) We witnessed the sight of a whole range of some four dozen mountains being levelled.
We are developing the powers of Demi-Gods. But we seem to be up against an opponent with the power of the Gods themselves. What hope to we have to save our planet?
Entry 10
Entry 10
Despite a near fatal encounter with one of the invading alien automata, our investigations across the globe continue.
Setting off in our flying(!) boat, the Belerophon, to search the world, we first travelled to check the well-being of our erstwhile crew members. They were living in a ramshackle encampment outside Vicereen, their number swelled by various refugees from that benighted place.
Methuselah made some adjustments to our crew but The Belerophon cannot carry a full marine-ship complement. So we gave what supplies and funds we could to the rest and instructed them to make their way to Paranti, acquire a boat and sail to our island hideout to live out their lives.
Methuselah then determined a route across the world to seek evidence of any more population harvesting storms. We went first to Paranti where were found the city in ruins. The blue giant which had been troubling them during our last visit had simply starved to death.
We left the place and set off on Methuselah's course. Within a few days, we heard the sounds of thunder. Turning towards it, we saw a steak of red fly past our ship. A projectile of some kind. Ahead we saw a large mass of people on the ground. And another missile dispatched towards us.
"We come in Peace" I sent ahead using my newly developed telepathic abilities.
"Don't care!" came the reply.
The mass of "people" turned out to be a group of the pig-spliced creatures who are invading our world. They were accompanied by several giant flying eggs. As we fled, one of these was sent to pursue us.
Thanks to Hanna's brave scouting mission, we were not surprised when it uncoiled into a giant humanoid automaton and fired missile after missile at us. None of our responses, be it massed muskets, cannon nor the energy weapon I'd picked up - from our earlier encounter with the pig splices - had any effect upon it. Alas, the obverse could not said to be true. The only thing that kept us alive was Methuselah's skill at piloting the flying ship.
Seeing that he'd taken us out over the sea and dropped us to a lower height - presumably to allow a chance of survival when we had to abandon ship - I played a last, desperate, card. Firing my captured alien weapon at the sea below us, I created a huge wave of steam. This seemed to befuddle the senses of the thing pursuing us and we were able to escape in the artificial fog.
Methuselah decided to use the confusion to fly nearer the crashed giant metallic airship. Damien - our telepathic spy from Vicereen - demurred but we lied to him about our intents.
We stopped off at a small village which was strangely untouched by the events across the world. We issued them a warning and took the opportunity to repair our boat. I was also able to adjust Methuselah's sextant to that it could estimate height as well as two dimensional position.
Finding the alien ship too well protected, we went to re-investigate the glowing orange orb. Approaching by the air proved difficult when we lost gravity and people started floating away. Crewman Dibble and one of Hanna's offspring were killed. So we landed the ship and approached afoot.
Using ropes and grapples - and working as a team - we managed to reach the sphere this time. Our skin turned orange - much to Damien's discomfort. However, despite seeming translucent with objects inside, the sphere proved immune to out scientific investigations. When Methuselah was injured and my energy gun drained during those investigations, we chose to withdraw.
Despite a near fatal encounter with one of the invading alien automata, our investigations across the globe continue.
Setting off in our flying(!) boat, the Belerophon, to search the world, we first travelled to check the well-being of our erstwhile crew members. They were living in a ramshackle encampment outside Vicereen, their number swelled by various refugees from that benighted place.
Methuselah made some adjustments to our crew but The Belerophon cannot carry a full marine-ship complement. So we gave what supplies and funds we could to the rest and instructed them to make their way to Paranti, acquire a boat and sail to our island hideout to live out their lives.
Methuselah then determined a route across the world to seek evidence of any more population harvesting storms. We went first to Paranti where were found the city in ruins. The blue giant which had been troubling them during our last visit had simply starved to death.
We left the place and set off on Methuselah's course. Within a few days, we heard the sounds of thunder. Turning towards it, we saw a steak of red fly past our ship. A projectile of some kind. Ahead we saw a large mass of people on the ground. And another missile dispatched towards us.
"We come in Peace" I sent ahead using my newly developed telepathic abilities.
"Don't care!" came the reply.
The mass of "people" turned out to be a group of the pig-spliced creatures who are invading our world. They were accompanied by several giant flying eggs. As we fled, one of these was sent to pursue us.
Thanks to Hanna's brave scouting mission, we were not surprised when it uncoiled into a giant humanoid automaton and fired missile after missile at us. None of our responses, be it massed muskets, cannon nor the energy weapon I'd picked up - from our earlier encounter with the pig splices - had any effect upon it. Alas, the obverse could not said to be true. The only thing that kept us alive was Methuselah's skill at piloting the flying ship.
Seeing that he'd taken us out over the sea and dropped us to a lower height - presumably to allow a chance of survival when we had to abandon ship - I played a last, desperate, card. Firing my captured alien weapon at the sea below us, I created a huge wave of steam. This seemed to befuddle the senses of the thing pursuing us and we were able to escape in the artificial fog.
Methuselah decided to use the confusion to fly nearer the crashed giant metallic airship. Damien - our telepathic spy from Vicereen - demurred but we lied to him about our intents.
We stopped off at a small village which was strangely untouched by the events across the world. We issued them a warning and took the opportunity to repair our boat. I was also able to adjust Methuselah's sextant to that it could estimate height as well as two dimensional position.
Finding the alien ship too well protected, we went to re-investigate the glowing orange orb. Approaching by the air proved difficult when we lost gravity and people started floating away. Crewman Dibble and one of Hanna's offspring were killed. So we landed the ship and approached afoot.
Using ropes and grapples - and working as a team - we managed to reach the sphere this time. Our skin turned orange - much to Damien's discomfort. However, despite seeming translucent with objects inside, the sphere proved immune to out scientific investigations. When Methuselah was injured and my energy gun drained during those investigations, we chose to withdraw.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Entry 9
We are away from Vicereen - revealed as a place of unparalleled iniquity - but on a craft of uncertain provenance.
Returning to Vicereen from our mission to scout the giant floating eggs, I was granted access to a state of the art laboratory within the University to continue my studies. But what studies? With the changes taking place in the world around me, I have enough for five lifetimes.
I elected to continue my studies in challenging Death. Even though the fall of Shaidar had not resulted in the ultimate apocalypse I'd feared, still humanity has been decimated and more thousands will die in the chaos descending upon our society. The saving of life must be my prime goal. (I may also find a way to prolong my own existence to undertake the other studies the world is presenting me.)
The assistants I've been given have so far failed to bring me subjects suitable for re-animation. What they have brought paint a sad picture of society under "King" Errald Eckles. I remain convinced that he is a well meaning man but under his rule children who are not blue are being beaten to death or worse.
Methuselah, Tyrann and Hanna left the city to check on our crew mates. They reported to me that their camp has grown into a shanty town as they have been joined by normal hued refugees from Vicereen. These refugees bear stories of food shortages, families divided by the uneven mutation of skin, blue-skinned citizens who wished to leave being ordered to stay and even having their families taken hostage in order the blackmail them into remaining. Truly this city is a divided and dysfunctional place.
When they returned they brought the scout Sarah. Alas she still seems to be enamoured with me. In addition she seems to have developed the ability to send her spirit into the bodies of others. She has demonstrated this to Methuselah and Tyrann who seem to have taken a perverse pleasure in the experience. Tyrann, in particular, seems to revel her discovering the more brutal events of his past.
I managed to dissuade her from looking into my mind and immediately tasked my assistants with bringing me people near to death. What insights might we gain if Sarah is able to inhabit a dying body and report back her experiences? To date the fools have failed to bring me any useful subjects.
Methuselah and Tyrann seemed to indulge themselves in some fantasy of releasing the captive families of the refugees but upon discovering the fact that the cells are below the palace and that King Eckles has established a group of guards with exceptional abilities who can read minds, track escapees, teleport in pursuit etc. have abandoned these flights of fancy.
They was some talk of stealing a ship from the harbour in order to set sail and seek an answer to the strange storms we saw stealing ships crews at the start of our adventures. However, I simply went to ask the King to fund a scientific expedition across the world. Not only did he do so, he insisted upon gifting us a FLYING ship, created by his advanced followers. When I chose to name it BELLEROPHON after the famed rider of the winged beast Pegasus, one of his entourage created a three dimensional figurehead out of thin air. (Again I could not see where the mass had come from. It has to come from somewhere. Somewhere in the world Mass is in defecit. I hope this does not come back to haunt us in the future.)
The only stipulation the King had was that we should be accompanied by Damien - one of his servants who has the ability to telepathically report back on our journey. (I expect we'll be forced to kill him at some point.) We rejected any further crew and have filled the ship with crewmembers from the ill-fated CHIMERA. We have been forced to leave our rock-skinned Rhinotaur aground, however.
Returning to Vicereen from our mission to scout the giant floating eggs, I was granted access to a state of the art laboratory within the University to continue my studies. But what studies? With the changes taking place in the world around me, I have enough for five lifetimes.
I elected to continue my studies in challenging Death. Even though the fall of Shaidar had not resulted in the ultimate apocalypse I'd feared, still humanity has been decimated and more thousands will die in the chaos descending upon our society. The saving of life must be my prime goal. (I may also find a way to prolong my own existence to undertake the other studies the world is presenting me.)
The assistants I've been given have so far failed to bring me subjects suitable for re-animation. What they have brought paint a sad picture of society under "King" Errald Eckles. I remain convinced that he is a well meaning man but under his rule children who are not blue are being beaten to death or worse.
Methuselah, Tyrann and Hanna left the city to check on our crew mates. They reported to me that their camp has grown into a shanty town as they have been joined by normal hued refugees from Vicereen. These refugees bear stories of food shortages, families divided by the uneven mutation of skin, blue-skinned citizens who wished to leave being ordered to stay and even having their families taken hostage in order the blackmail them into remaining. Truly this city is a divided and dysfunctional place.
When they returned they brought the scout Sarah. Alas she still seems to be enamoured with me. In addition she seems to have developed the ability to send her spirit into the bodies of others. She has demonstrated this to Methuselah and Tyrann who seem to have taken a perverse pleasure in the experience. Tyrann, in particular, seems to revel her discovering the more brutal events of his past.
I managed to dissuade her from looking into my mind and immediately tasked my assistants with bringing me people near to death. What insights might we gain if Sarah is able to inhabit a dying body and report back her experiences? To date the fools have failed to bring me any useful subjects.
Methuselah and Tyrann seemed to indulge themselves in some fantasy of releasing the captive families of the refugees but upon discovering the fact that the cells are below the palace and that King Eckles has established a group of guards with exceptional abilities who can read minds, track escapees, teleport in pursuit etc. have abandoned these flights of fancy.
They was some talk of stealing a ship from the harbour in order to set sail and seek an answer to the strange storms we saw stealing ships crews at the start of our adventures. However, I simply went to ask the King to fund a scientific expedition across the world. Not only did he do so, he insisted upon gifting us a FLYING ship, created by his advanced followers. When I chose to name it BELLEROPHON after the famed rider of the winged beast Pegasus, one of his entourage created a three dimensional figurehead out of thin air. (Again I could not see where the mass had come from. It has to come from somewhere. Somewhere in the world Mass is in defecit. I hope this does not come back to haunt us in the future.)
The only stipulation the King had was that we should be accompanied by Damien - one of his servants who has the ability to telepathically report back on our journey. (I expect we'll be forced to kill him at some point.) We rejected any further crew and have filled the ship with crewmembers from the ill-fated CHIMERA. We have been forced to leave our rock-skinned Rhinotaur aground, however.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Entry 8
Both we and The World continue to change in unprecedented ways - and my mind is struggling to keep up.
On our way back to the Mole people I was approached by Hanna. She had been avoiding me of late. Naturally I’d noticed her swelling belly. Knowing little of Avian physiology I had no guide as to the period of their gestation. I’d heard of her sexual misadventures which had occurred during my interment aboard The Chimera, but that was mere weeks ago. Hanna informed me that Avians usually lay eggs and that her enlargement was proceeding at an unnatural pace.
A quick external examination determined that the foetus was not turned for delivery and was growing at an alarming pace. I immediately prepared my surgical tools to perform a Victorian Section (a procedure of my own invention I’ve been dying to try out). However, before I could act, Hanna screamed and gave birth.
I asked Hanna if she wished the abomination to live - prepared to do whatever she deemed necessary - and the bloodied mass called out that it wanted to live.
Immediately the new born started to grow. How, I have no idea. It ingested no food and yet added mass from seemingly nowhere. Within moments there were two identical beings before me - Hanna and an exact duplicate, which Hanna delightedly named “Annah”.
This neophyte avian seemed to be an exact duplicate of its “mother”, even sharing all memories up to the point of its birth. (None since, though, no telepathy here.)
We resumed our journey but were attacked by 8’ tall pig headed humanoids wearing strange armour and wielding fearsome weapons that seemed to fire balls of destructive light. Despite their clearly superior weaponry, our clever tactics (and the bravery of our followers who we sent in first to take the fight to our enemies ) meant that they were easily defeated. We claimed their equipment and - on the cart as we travelled - I performed a post mortem on one of the carcasses. It seemed to be a typical “splice” of human and animal just like every other race on the planet. Just a merging we haven’t seen before. Strangely it bore an all too human tattoo of a heart pierced by an arrow - dedicated to “Rose”.
Eschewing the Mole people we agreed to travel to meet Kagriss’ people in Vicereen. Our travels took us via Paranti where the remaining people were evicting anyone of blue skin. (The blue skinned giant had long since starved to death.)
Leaving Paranti behind, we headed overland to Vicereen. On our journies we found what must have been the ruins of Kagriss’ Airship - but nothing of it was salvageable.
When we arrived at Vicereen, we found people of ordinary hue being evicted and only blue skins allowed in. Annah was sent to scout but, lacking Hanna’s experience, plunged from the sky to die - dissipating into a blue mist. I caught some in a glass tube but it passed through the glass to escape. Truly the laws of basic science seem to no longer apply in this world.
Hanna scouted and found the city full of blue-skinned people - all apparently gifted with abilities. Many were flying - including at least one Rhinotaur.
When we approached, most of our band - including myself and Sara whose skin colour has returned to normal - were denied entry. Only those with blue skins and abilities were allowed in.
I demonstrated that I was of normal hue but had abilities which confused the gate guards. I was allowed in - but arrested.
After a rest and some food - I wasn’t harassed in any way (I seem to have developed the ability to influence the actions of others ) - I was taken before the “King”. Not, as I’d anticipated, Kagriss but one “Errald Eckles”. An impressive figure when you’re in his presence - less so when you leave it. (I think we can deduce HIS ability.)
Not the brightest of individuals, I soon convinced him of the usefulness of ordinary hued individuals as spies should a conflict develop. He then revealed that giant white egg shapes had been seen floating in the skies. He’d sent Kagriss to investigate but he hasn’t returned.
One of his assistants teleported me back to my friends (yes - teleported!) After a quick visit to the University to drop off the pig armour - fearsome technology, no metal ceramic or other substance we know - (we retained the weapons) we set off to find the giant floating white eggs. Hanna bravely scouted and discovered that they are giant collapsed humanoid automata of some kind.
I am unsure how to proceed. At the moment my world is like trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle using pieces from different pictures.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Entry 7
We have suffered more changes. My belief in rationality and science is wavering.
We acquired food, equipment and small cart for our forthcoming safari to seek the Golden Sky Globe. This was pulled by one of our Rhinotaur crew-members. Leaving Paranti we were assaulted in a pincer manoeuvre by two angry mobs who attempted to simultaneously use our blue skin hue to blame us for the disaster that had befallen their city and demand that we deal with the blue giant currently causing so much wrack and ruin. It didn't take much to demonstrate our intellectual and tactical superiority and send them packing.
After six days of travel - we all "heard" a message in our heads from Kagriss - the cult leader who had predicted the Apocalypse and, apparently, had built a giant ballon in and attempt to escape or defy it. He called all survivors to meet him in Visagreen. We continued with our mission.
I noted plants turning yellow - yet my tests proved them still to be healthy. I suspect more evidence of adaptation to a new environment. As we neared the Golden Globe, we began to suffer further physical changes, but regular checks showed everyone to be healthy. (Again, all the details are in my scientific journal).
There also changes to the environment. Changes to gravity caused movement to be difficult. The others chose to end our sojourn but I attempted to press on. However, even I was defeated and forced to turn back. It is so frustrating to be near something which appears to be from another realm entirely and yet be unable to plumb its secrets.
It was then that I discovered that I have developed the ability to Heal wounds with a touch. This is remarkable and annoying. I have spent my life and intellect developing medical skills and techniques which now appear to have been supplanted by a mere touch of my hand. I shall console myself with the fact that my skills and techniques can be taught to those not blessed by alien radiations with a healing touch. My work has not been in vain.
Naturally I have begun to test my abilities. I caught a gopher (or what had once been a gopher) and smothered it. Several times. It seems I am able to revive creatures if it is within a few seconds of the cessation of life function. I shall try to extend this.
We acquired food, equipment and small cart for our forthcoming safari to seek the Golden Sky Globe. This was pulled by one of our Rhinotaur crew-members. Leaving Paranti we were assaulted in a pincer manoeuvre by two angry mobs who attempted to simultaneously use our blue skin hue to blame us for the disaster that had befallen their city and demand that we deal with the blue giant currently causing so much wrack and ruin. It didn't take much to demonstrate our intellectual and tactical superiority and send them packing.
After six days of travel - we all "heard" a message in our heads from Kagriss - the cult leader who had predicted the Apocalypse and, apparently, had built a giant ballon in and attempt to escape or defy it. He called all survivors to meet him in Visagreen. We continued with our mission.
I noted plants turning yellow - yet my tests proved them still to be healthy. I suspect more evidence of adaptation to a new environment. As we neared the Golden Globe, we began to suffer further physical changes, but regular checks showed everyone to be healthy. (Again, all the details are in my scientific journal).
There also changes to the environment. Changes to gravity caused movement to be difficult. The others chose to end our sojourn but I attempted to press on. However, even I was defeated and forced to turn back. It is so frustrating to be near something which appears to be from another realm entirely and yet be unable to plumb its secrets.
It was then that I discovered that I have developed the ability to Heal wounds with a touch. This is remarkable and annoying. I have spent my life and intellect developing medical skills and techniques which now appear to have been supplanted by a mere touch of my hand. I shall console myself with the fact that my skills and techniques can be taught to those not blessed by alien radiations with a healing touch. My work has not been in vain.
Naturally I have begun to test my abilities. I caught a gopher (or what had once been a gopher) and smothered it. Several times. It seems I am able to revive creatures if it is within a few seconds of the cessation of life function. I shall try to extend this.
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