Talking on the way sounds good.
“Guardian One’s office has a sign I was able to read. It says ‘Mother must die.’ There was a book about how to rule, how to lie to people and how to eliminate useless people. Ta-Hashar explained what this has to do with the killer Nanite swarms.
“The people of lower classes had living nanites in their bodies. They learned how to disconnect and reprogram them to attack their oppressors. Things escalated, and now the killer nanites are basically a layer in the stratosphere.”
If anyone is interested in her full account, she’ll tell
"Chus sûr que peu importe ce qui se passe, ça peut attendre à demain matin," says Hamel a little angrily.
"I'm sure that whatever is happening, it can wait until tomorrow morning!" comes the neutral and calm translation from the Communicators.
Hamel is wearing some kind of Utopian dressing gown. It looks silky and is rather short, showing much of his thighs. He has just arrived. He is not out of breath and does not look like he hurried to get here.
Henri looks at the irritated Hamel, "I spoke to Mother. She tried to show me what's afflicting her - it looked like an infection, but I believe it was an analogy for nanite or viruses in some of her components. I need to know what you know about what's below the bay. I have a map." He points at his temple, "but I need context."
Whistles a bit "Wookay dokie. Clearly above my paygrade here. but I gotcha back on the whole water-not-drownin thing. If she's a goopy computer, she can catch a flu I guess. Or machina bugs. I guess..." checking his pockets for the orb "So.. Lets walk and talk then?"
leaning into Henri "Should I just pick him up and run to water, or chit chat here?" as he whispers a few sigils glow and Henri feels more charismatic and clearer conversationally and folks grow to listen slightly more.
Henri looks at the irritated Hamel, "I spoke to Mother. She tried to show me what's afflicting her - it looked like an infection, but I believe it was an analogy for nanite or viruses in some of her components. I need to know what you know about what's below the bay. I have a map." He points at his temple, "but I need context."
"Look, mon ami," says Hamel, "if there is anything infecting Mother, it has been infecting Mother for over 687 years. One more night won't hurt. Unless, of course, you triggered something, Henri?"
”You need not come along, Hamel, but 687 years is too long. I need to do something while I can. There’s also a real concern that the nanites infecting her have access to the inside of the dome. Where we are. And they seemed to be attracted to me because of my nanites. Do you have nanites, mon ami? Is that why you could hear Mother’s call earlier?”
"It could well have been activated by the attempt to contact Mother," Unity point out. "Something that lay dormant until communication was attempted, in case other sabotages weren't successful? That would seem well within the reach of any rebels willing to kill their own world to kill their enemies. Now, you clearly have no interest in diving into the water, so perhaps it would be easier for you to just tell us if you know anything and then we'll be on our way."
”You need not come along, Hamel, but 687 years is too long. I need to do something while I can. There’s also a real concern that the nanites infecting her have access to the inside of the dome. Where we are. And they seemed to be attracted to me because of my nanites. Do you have nanites, mon ami? Is that why you could hear Mother’s call earlier?”
[dice=This should be rich - diplomacy]1d20 + 1
Hamel looks pissed but doesn't say anything for a bit. He just stands looking angrier and angrier until he slowly and angrily says, "six cent quatre vingt sept ans!" before heading angrily back to bed.
Ta-Hashar doesn't seem surprised by Hamel's anger, "He left a lot behind. A family. I don't understand why he joined the Service. He clearly missed them. He'll come around."
Henri watches him go. ”I am surprised he’s been as helpful as he has been. I’ve worked with his type before.” Looking at the Atlantean, he adds, ”It has little to do with what’s lost.”
Turning to the others, he says, ”Let’s go for a swim, my friends. How do we do this?”
Turning to the others, he says, ”Let’s go for a swim, my friends. How do we do this?”
"Fu<k yeah!" Theo exclaimed! "Let's save this world! Like we've done dozens of times! I know! I'll pray to Poseidon in hopes he will intercede with our mission on our behalf!"
If people intend to go seek Mother now, the Utopians, for their part, will arrange for transportation to the Bay of Pearls which is where Hamel suggested the entrance would be. The Guardians seem to be concerned that seeing you will cause people to ask disruptive questions.
Henri now has a map to the entrance downloaded from Mother. Reaching it will require swimming 40' underwater.
You will be accompanied by the Fishers that Ta-Hashar met earlier.
The carriage is too small for a Communicator or Utopian to join you. The Utopians will follow separately. You can talk freely.
At the water's edge, the godling scoops some water into The Chalice and prays with it to Posideon, asking for his blessing on this underwater mission to save this Atlantis-type civilization.
Theo stands next to Meo and the Healers. "So? Where are we sleeping tonight?"
While the three Healers seem curious about Theo's suggestion, it is at this point that Theo is politely informed he is requested to sleep alone until they better understand this whole sex resulting in pregnancy thing you've tried to explain to them.
"What better way to understand a concept than with a practically demonstration?" Theo smirked.
Henri looks around at his friends, reading the room. He raises his hands in surrender. "OK, OK. Hamel is probably right, anyway. It's been this way for almost 700 years. Another few hours is probably not going to make a difference."
The fate of Utopia is in your hands. Something tests your slumber. Is it the responsibility or Mother Utopia or the restless spirits who tried to destroy the Utopia Island Project?
You are shown to private, isolated rooms. You are not locked in at all and the rooms are quite open the cool and pleasant night. Your hosts have told you the weather is always like this.
The next morning, dawn has barely broken, when your hosts arrive with a breakfast tray of strange fruits, tiny eggs, and a stalk of some plant that tastes a bit like celery.
They are ready to take you down to the Bay of Pearls as soon as you are ready.
You are shown to private, isolated rooms. You are not locked in at all and the rooms are quite open the cool and pleasant night. Your hosts have told you the weather is always like this.
Theo's dreams were Meo-centric, but thoughts of a no-face infant being held by his Healer also flashed through his dreams.
In the morning, the godling sharpens The Angel Sword.
Zeus, I got to get some new armor. Theo thinks as he casts token spell to learn himself, his armor, and tactical shield.
Legato snores and feels like he had unsual dreams about being a cloud, but he can't remember much in the morning after. He is however distracted by the tiny eggs and celery-like stalks. Ushering them into his pockets, this time however baggies are present taken from who knows as he fils them he nods and mumblres 'no wet snacks this time. Sewer Jerky was a bad call..
As they are ready, refreshed "I don't got a big tank o magic. But its full up n' ready for some pearl divin'. I got me orb, we good? 'cause my truck gun aint underwater gun. eye those with melee weapons.
Legato asks everyone to gather into a pile. Pushign everyon uncomfortably close to each other, some may like it some may not. Momentarily he considers Charles-Will it work on him normal? prior to realizing he probably can swim just fine if it doesn't. "Eh lets see what happens" giving a shrug a moment before he palms the orb and clears his throat, and takes a deep breath. Before stuffing it down his throat, buldging his throat a moment unnaturally and perhaps unsettlingly prior to swalling it down. As he exhales violent and harlequin coloured mist that stirs and covers the group, sticking to their clothing, equipment, skin and such. Prior to glittering a moment then holding as a transparent shell of the enviroment that best suits their body.
Coughing a bit more, a few more puffs of glittery particlues-the last cough turning into smoke art-Legato claps his hands. "Unlessn something tears my magic asunder. That should be good for a few days givin ya basic air. Aint gonna help ya swim tho"
up to 7 of us.
Life Buble:
You surround the target creatures with a constant and movable 1-inch shell of tolerable living conditions customized for each creature. This shell enables the targets to breathe freely in a variety of atmospheric conditions (including in corrosive, thick, thin, and toxic atmospheres), as well as underwater or in a vacuum. It also makes the targets immune to harmful gases and vapors, including inhaled diseases and poisons as well as spells with a harmful gaseous effect. In addition, the shell protects targets (and their equipment) from extreme temperatures (between –50° and 140° F) without having to attempt Fortitude saving throws, as well as extreme pressures.
Life bubble doesn’t provide protection from energy damage, negative or positive energy (such as found on the Negative and Positive Energy Planes), or radiation; it also doesn’t provide the ability to see in conditions of poor visibility (such as in smoke or fog) or the ability to move or act normally in conditions that impede movement (such as underwater).
Unity are frustrated about waiting, but as they look at their companions they have to acknowledge that most of them do not have the same kind of stamina they themself have, so they reluctantly agree to rest first and then go.
Their dreams are fragmented and slip from their minds as they wake. They partake of the breakfast brought to them with thanks before getting back into their armor and going to meet up with the others.
Henri dreams of Grandmother Trenna - the real one - and Mother wearing her guise. Of things that he recalls from many years ago, of stories Grandmother Trenna shared as she shared her wisdom with the children, and of things that he can't possibly know - things from Utopia that must have come from Mother. Did she force-feed him so much during his catatonia that he is only now processing it? Or is she still pushing information to him when he's pliable to her attempts? When he wakes up, he wonders.
"OK, that rest was probably a good idea. I fear there are nanites in the data center or whatever Mother's realm is. I don't know how to prepare to face them, but you should be aware. I'm ready when you are."
Nissa curls up on a pillow overnight. Her dreams are of sunbathing nude in a closed off section of a private beach where none could ogle her as she gave the Dawnflower her prayers, and in return, was granted beauty without tan-lines. This dream is simply her summers in Cape Ciod from the age of 18 to 20, including the day she gained her powers.
Only in the dream…
“Little One, is this what you want of life? Luxury at the cost of exploitation? Have you mistaken me for Calistria?”
Nissa rises. “Wow… that was harsh. But… fair. But it’s the only break I can get. Look at me! I’m a freak! If people are gonna gawk at me for being little, I may as well get paid for it.”
She doesn’t know this is her goddess, or she would not have dared!
The goddess replies, “If people are gawking, show them who you truly are. And since you have already chosen to belittle yourself, I have the perfect gift for you!”
Nissa wakes up on the beach as a tiny version of the glowing woman, less than three inches tall. She curls up in the sand and cries…
Nissa wakes up curled on her pillow, crying. She doesn’t know why, but she’s glad the room is private!
• • • • •
When all are gathered, she asks Legato, “How does your magic work? Do I breathe water, or am I to be surrounded by a bubble of air? I don’t need to breathe, but I can only fight with fire. Underwater, at this size, I am completely harmless.”
Before going under, Theo kneels down by the water, scooping some up in The Chalice and praying to Poseidon over the Chalice. The godling beseethed his Exalted Uncle for his blessing into his realm and success in the mission.
When all are gathered, she asks Legato, “How does your magic work? Do I breathe water, or am I to be surrounded by a bubble of air? I don’t need to breathe, but I can only fight with fire. Underwater, at this size, I am completely harmless.”
"uh.Er. Ya don't breath in the first place? Awlrighty. Well, the mist makes a barrier that acts like what cha need. Air for me, Water for a fish. Whatcha need to stay alive ya? I dunno how yer situations gonna work. Ain't ever had a magic fire bug buddy before. Gonna have to test if yerself." Givin a shrug, "My truck gun aint gonna work either, I gots an idea to throw some magic tho'. Hopin that does the trick. Glad I got that coatin on my truck gun."
Unity look around at the gathered group. "Before we start, we have an annoucement to make."
They pause a moment, then chorus, "We are Unity."
"We'd mentioned before that the name 'Charles' had been feeling less and less ours and more like... borrowing from a dead man," they explain. "So last night we finally decided that Unity was the best name we could think of for ourself."
"Now that that's covered, it's about time to get covered in water," they say with a toothy grin. "Though if it's only forty feet down it won't be a long swim. We assume that there's a way to get in to the computer area without flooding it with water, so hopefully acquatic combat capabilities will not be required. If they are... well, our claws and fangs still work just as well wet as dry."
They smile much more toothily than before.
The Utopians usher you across the estate to a waiting carriage. The technology is not ancient. The carriage looks like it is to be pulled by two beasts that looked more like grey elk than horses. You don't get a chance to examine them though because the shutters of the carriage are pulled tight as soon as you enter. The general populace of Utopia will see only a dark carriage pulled through the streets at an early hour.
The carriage is too small for a Communicator or Utopian to join you. The Utopians will follow separately. You can talk freely.
When the carriage finally stops, the doors open to reveal the bay, a wharf made probably by the ancients, and dozens of huts.
The huts are covered in pearls, some the size of your fist. They are embedded in the walls with clay. On each hut, pearls are arranged in spiral patterns with the largest pearl at the center and pearls of gradually decreasing size coming out from it.
The huts are not otherwise remarkable. Fishing traps, nets, buckets, rafts, boats, and floats sit in piles.
Three piles of pearls have been sorted into small, medium, and large sizes. Tiny pearls crush into the sand under your feet.
The Utopians do not pay much attention to the pearls.
A trio of Fishers stand by the largest hut. They have broad shoulders, backs, and hips with enough fat to keep them warm under the water. The gills on their necks are similar enough to Ta-Hashar's that you must suspect a connection. They greet Ta-Hashar as a friend and he talks with them, through a Communicator before coming over.
"They think they know the place you're looking for," says Ta-Hashar in Atlantean. Mindy translates into now nearly impeccable English. "A metal shield embedded in the foot of the island 40' down. The Guardians had it investigated years ago and concluded it was of no significance. They seem to disagree."
"Wow! Mindy! Your grasp of English is quite amazing!!" Theo smiles at the friendly Communicator.
The godling looks around the pearl-strung village. "I don't know if Poseidon is worshipped here, but his energy certainly pervades their culture."
Unity reluctantly transform into their bipedal form to fit into the carriage.
"Could have run faster ourself," they grumble.
"So we've learned about how bad the past of this world was," they say once the doors are shut. "Are we sure fixing Mother will improve things? What if there are protocols in what's been damaged to enforce the sort of things that book Nissa saw talked about?"
******************************
Unity stride towards the water, smoothly transitioning back to their chimera form as the do. "Well, it sounds like we have a place to swim to. And we'll have to figure out how to open it when we get there. Are we ready to start?"
”If Mother is functioning properly, she will open the door when I get there.”
Theo claps his hands. "Alright! Let's go!"
“I’m still not sure how water and I mix.”
Nissa experiments.
☀️
She first dips her toe in. And should that work out, she tries her powers.
She dips a flaming fist under the water, then attempts a punch!
Theo shrugged. "Granted, some aspects of Utopian society is thriving. But in others ways, it's just surviving. I don't know. I ope that with Mother's renewal, life will get much better for these people."
As they pass the Pearls, Legato will ask if he can have a souvineer or a few- and will very much fill a few beggies with a scoop to sort through later. "Maybe I won't need to worry about a parkin' ticket."
Walkin up to everyone who looks like they plan to go.
"Allrighty folks. I got no speargun, but I'm hopin my magic'll do the trick if we gotta fight a megalodon or a giant squid!"
Legato asks everyone to gather into a pile. Pushin everyone uncomfortably close to each other, some may like it some may not. Momentarily he considers Charles-Will it work on him normal? prior to realizing he probably can swim just fine if it doesn't. "Eh lets see what happens" giving a shrug a moment before he palms the orb and clears his throat, and takes a deep breath. Before stuffing it down his throat, buldging his throat a moment unnaturally and perhaps unsettlingly prior to swalling it down. As he exhales violent and harlequin coloured mist that stirs and covers the group, sticking to their clothing, equipment, skin and such. Prior to glittering a moment then holding as a transparent shell of the enviroment that best suits their body.
Coughing a bit more, a few more puffs of glittery particlues-the last cough turning into smoke art-Legato claps his hands. "Unlessn something tears my magic asunder . That should be good for a few days givin ya basic air. Aint gonna help ya swim tho. or talk. Ya'll might wanna decide on basic hand signs for stuff?"
You surround the target creatures with a constant and movable 1-inch shell of tolerable living conditions customized for each creature. This shell enables the targets to breathe freely in a variety of atmospheric conditions (including in corrosive, thick, thin, and toxic atmospheres), as well as underwater or in a vacuum. It also makes the targets immune to harmful gases and vapors, including inhaled diseases and poisons as well as spells with a harmful gaseous effect. In addition, the shell protects targets (and their equipment) from extreme temperatures (between –50° and 140° F) without having to attempt Fortitude saving throws, as well as extreme pressures.
Life bubble doesn’t provide protection from energy damage, negative or positive energy (such as found on the Negative and Positive Energy Planes), or radiation; it also doesn’t provide the ability to see in conditions of poor visibility (such as in smoke or fog) or the ability to move or act normally in conditions that impede movement (such as underwater).
Henri has been deep in thought, but realizes Unity's question after a moment, "Hmm? Oh, well, I don't know. I'm not sure what the actual history is - was Mother here before their civil war? I thought Mother was brought in by those attempting to help the world recover. I guess I am only trying to help the planet recover to a sustainable state by reinstating the original plan from 700 years ago. Fixing the culture... that's tomorrow's problem, I think."
***On the carriage***
"I think whatever happens, this culture isn't staying the same," Unity comment in response to Henri. "We doubt the reverence for 'Mother' will be quite the same after all of this, for one thing."
"We just think we should be keeping this in mind as we move forward," they continue. "Most of these people seem well-intentioned, but they may well take things in ways that don't seem obvious to us at first."
***On the shore***
Unity stay out of Legato's spell, wanting the opportunity to use their gills.
"Signals would likely be wise," they agree, "but remember these Fishers here have been down there without being attacked by any sea monsters. It's only forty feet down. We may need to be more concerned with getting through the entrance and what awaits us on the other side."
“I was dreaming of the beach, so I’m more than ready for a swim!”
Nissa magical-girls her outfit to appear as a swimsuit!
She looks radiant, and not just because she’s literally made of sunlight. Life as a supermodel seems to have more than prepared Nissa to adjust to her strange new body with unparalleled confidence!
So was it just a dream, or was my goddess actually giving me back that memory when I needed it most…?
Theo claps his hands. "Alright! Thanks, Legato! Those who need air can go, and Nissa can provide the light we need to see in the inky depths. I think Lord Poseidon is on our side. Let's save a civilization!!"
Henri nods, "Let's do this."
Hamel did not accompany you. Henri will be hearing from him shortly.
A trio of the Fishers are accompanying you. They'll show you where the metal circle in the seawall is. The hidden entrance to Mother is, apparently, at the lowest point on the island, 40' below the water, almost directly in line with the entrance to the complex you went through at the top.
Sinking into the water, the Fishers lead the way. They swim with quick powerful strokes and without the need for oxygen. Ta-Hashar is surprised by how quickly they take off and bolts after them, not wanting to be shown up in the water.
Twenty feet from the shore, you see why they call this Pearl Bay. Oysters dot the underwater reefs in a ridiculous abundance. If these oysters were put here as part of Mother's programming, it may be a bug or malfunction. You can see why the Utopians treat pearls as shiny pebbles.
The water is very clear and undisturbed. Fish barely avoid you and the job of Fisher may be quite easy. You could catch them with a spear even with little training. They point to something under the water ... a configuration of pearls in a recess in the water. When Nissa swims over the area and lights it, you see it in its magnificence. The same spiraling pattern of pearls you saw on the Fishers' huts, you see here. Instead of a very large pearl at the center of the spiral, you see the steel portal they mentioned.
The design of the pearls is beautiful and clearly an act of reverence. Clearly there are those among the Fishers who worship Mother.
As they swim, Henri tries to establish a connection with Mother. His focus is clear to anyone watching him - he's swimming on autopilot.
Henri feels Mother becoming aware of him again. The connection feels slow and confused.
He also senses another presence. "Henri, mon ami?" says Hamel. "I'm just getting static from Mother."
Mother takes shape in Henri's mind, still as Henri's grandmother, but a younger version. The youngest version he remembers.
"I'm going to keep trying," says Hamel.
"Welcome, my child," says Mother to Henri. The metal port slides open, disappearing into the walls of the oyster covered reef, to reveal an airlock large enough for ten humans at least.
"Thank you, Mother."
"Hamel, there's something different in her response. Be alert for trickery. I'm concerned about the nanites infecting her."
He waves his friends and allies into the airlock.
Unity watch the water warily while Henri 'speaks' to Mother. They'd transformed back into their chimera form, but when the door opens and they see the size of the airlock they switch back to their bipedal form. They quickly swim to the front of the airlock while looking around for anything that looks amiss.
Unity watch the water warily while Henri 'speaks' to Mother. They'd transformed back into their chimera form, but when the door opens and they see the size of the airlock they switch back to their bipedal form. They quickly swim to the front of the airlock while looking around for anything that looks amiss.
[dice=Perception]1d20+10
Unity swim forward as the water sinks in the airlock. They notice that the airlock seems darker than you would expect a structure for those without darkvision to be. If Nissa wasn't glowing, the airlock would have no lighting at all.
Near the internal door of the airlock, there is a metal pad like you have seen in other places, with an etching of a hand cut into it. Unity's paw might not match the shape, but in bipedal form it is worth a shot. In other places you've seen these, the pad were keyed to specific individuals.
Theo follows everyone down in to the airlock. The godling motions Henri over to the hand etching, encouraging him to put his hand on it.
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Nissa floats close to the hand etching so Henri might easily see if it’s a match. She suspects his nanobot connection is more important than his fingerprints, but she doesn’t say anything.
The feel of being underwater and dry, not worried about drowning… it’s so strange and new to her! I need to find a way to do this all the time, like Charles!
She still thinks of her big friend as ‘Charles Wilde,’ zookeeper turned bestial. But that is no longer the case, or… it never was.
Unity, she reminds herself. You’re not the only one embracing the change. Embrace his too. Again, she corrects herself: Theirs.