Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:26 No. 1023626 ID: c7b480
File 164505401838.png - (10.80KB , 500x500 , elevation.png )

>>1023173

“Do you think you’d be able to help me find… myself?”

”Oh, of course. I’m sure when we talk to Minerva about this she’ll want to help you with your current situation too. It’s just, it doesn't seem you have any leads right now and neither do we. If anything does come up though, we’ll jump right on it.”

>>1023243

“What should I do then? I barely know who I am and the rest of it is all- lost.”

”I know… but perhaps making a new life for yourself will reveal the past? Call it a hunch, but I feel you used to be an engineer. Maybe refreshing yourself on those skills could bring some memories out?”

“I’m not certain it would, but it would be something to do…”

The two of you eventually head into an elevator at the end of the hall, as the doors close behind you feel a bit uncomfortable, but it’s hard to place why… -oh hey, the screen next to the door has a map of the station.

2/7

Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:27 No. 1023627 ID: c7b480
File 164505403454.png - (10.86KB , 500x500 , stationmap.png )

The captain heads up to the screen and presses on the map.

”Take us to the archives…”

After a brief verification process where the captain scanned a tablet across the screen the elevator began to rise.

3/7

Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:28 No. 1023628 ID: c7b480
File 164505408920.png - (78.75KB , 500x500 , generator.png )

>>1023315

“Hey- have there been any ongoing wars? Or like, planets destroyed? It could be related to what happened to me.”

”War? -no, no not at all. Thus far there haven’t been any galactic scale wars, yet. We almost had one a while ago, but thankfully it fizzled out.”

“How long ago was ‘awhile’?”


“Okay, so maybe a few hundred years ago, on a galactic scale though, that’s- relatively recent. Here, lemme see if there’s something I could show you… actually this is a good time I gave you this.”

The captain digs in their pocket for a second tablet and hands it to you, once they see it starting to levitate they confidently let go of it as you look at the screen.

4/7

Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:32 No. 1023629 ID: c7b480
File 164505431918.gif - (5.05MB , 500x500 , map.gif )

”Before I get into it you probably wanna have an idea of the galactic map.”

”The thing you want to know the most is the four main sectors.”


”First, you’ve got the wilds, controlled by the Federation of Oak. Home to a variety of species with highly similar flora and fauna on their planets. Scientists have theorized that a seeder race passed through here long ago and terraformed a large number of the planets in this sector which is why a lot of biologically similar species eventually developed in the area.”

”Next, there’s the frontier, that’s where we are right now, we’re that dot near the border of the wilds. This used to be neutral ground, but so many different races have come into the area that it’s become somewhat of its own culture. Many new prospects are moving out here to stake their claim.”

”Then we have the ruin sector, this is where your species is from and it’s their government that controls the whole sector. The area contains a lot of old structures and technology from a past civilization that we’re still researching.

”Lastly, the unknown. Nobody goes out there and anybody who does isn’t heard from again. People have their own superstitions about it, but no matter what it might be, no sane person goes out there.”

5/7

Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:34 No. 1023630 ID: c7b480
File 164505443556.gif - (884.71KB , 500x500 , planet.gif )

“You said there was ‘almost’ a war? What happened?”

”Well. There’s another reason some people gave the ruin sector its name. See… the Viriskon’s way of colonization was destructive. They’d land on a planet with life and wipe it out systematically. Now, I don’t fully blame them. I’d be pretty terrified if an entire planet was turning a harmless gas into a deadly one, but that doesn’t justify killing it. Eventually though they stopped once they discovered there was other intelligent life in the universe- and as far as we know, thankfully, none of the planets they colonized had sentient lifeforms on it. Still this news got to the chirk death planet-

“DEATH PLANET?!”

”-yeah. Imagine a small terrestrial moon with a gigantic laser powered by the planet’s core that can fly freely through the galaxy. The area in gold next to the ruin sector is where the chirk’s roam. They’re pretty fond of nature and don’t like seeing it harmed.

“How do they have a ‘death planet’?!”

”We don’t know, nobody’s brave enough to get close enough to study it, but it’s likely a remnant of the civilization that occupied the ruin sector in the past.”

“...how many planets did they destroy?”

”Oh, the chirks haven’t attacked anyone yet-”

“No, I mean, the Viriskon.”

”-ah. Nine planets.

“Nine planets…”

6/7

Kiocoatl 2022/02/16(Wed)15:34 No. 1023631 ID: c7b480
File 164505449091.png - (35.30KB , 500x500 , higher.png )

“...”

”Hey, we’re almost to the archives, take a look outside.”

Looking up you can see you are now passing through the housing center of the station, artificial sunlight passing through the glass as you long upon the vast biodome.

”Was there anything else on your mind?”

7/7

If we were an engineer in our previous life, then... it's possible we designed many of the machines that allowed for the destructive terraforming. Perhaps our death was retribution for that. Probably wasn't the Death Planet's laser though, as the conisk was "shattered" and a laser that big would've just vaporized it.
I don't understand why the Viriskon bothered terraforming lush planets though. They're not exactly common planet types, and it must've been easier to terraform other types. Perhaps it happened once those desolate yet habitable planets became hard to find in their territory.

What are the smaller areas on the galactic map?

What is Viriskon civilization like?

What's Rala's deal anyways, with all the hardlight projections everywhere? When you tapped into the network, it seemed like they were psychically (?) connected to every other projection around the ship.

>tuning planets with life into planets without life.

Jesus what do they breathe, methane? Are they fkn grunts?

Sounds like there’s a big galaxy out there. The ruins are a decent ways off, but maybe it’d be worth traveling there to see if there’s anymore info about you from your species. Maybe they have the equivalent of a national database or a backup system? Something to ask about at least.

Giant unknown planet destroying Death Star sounds bad, but the lack of conflict makes this galaxy sound like a not so scary place. Finding out who tried to kill you might not be such a perilous thing as you first assumed.

Definitely take the captain up on engineering. That sounds like something you’re pretty much built for. Easy job where you can just ask the tech what’s wrong. Sounds like you can make some hard light friends along the way. Who knows, maybe you could commandeer a ship if you felt inclined. Just befriend the tech? Just an option.

>>1023791
They're the same thing Kio is. Oxygen is poisonous.

Kiocoatl 2022/02/23(Wed)20:42 No. 1024429 ID: c7b480
File 164567774640.gif - (34.26KB , 500x500 , 0-36_1.gif )

>>1023632

They said this took place about two hundred years ago… if you were a part of what happened, how old would that make you? The thought of that worries you. It would go against your name wouldn’t it? To be something that brought the end to life? Actually, how old are you?

“Do you know how old I am?”

”Oh, you’d have to ask the doctor about that.”

“Ah, alright i’ll have to do that. …how long do Viriskon live for?”

There was a short pause as the Captain turned with a nervous reply, ”You’re- not asking that because you think you’re related to what happened to those planets right?”

“It’s possible, isn’t it?”

”-okay, so conisk typically live for about three hundred years, but when I said it happened two hundred years ago, I meant that was when it was all wrapping up. Odds are if you were at all involved you were dismantling it.”

“-but what about my conierisk. Is it possible they were involved?”

The Captain had been appearing to add on with another retort, but that put a stop in their thinking, with an exasperated sigh they continued on, ”...okay- maybe. Though I would say with almost full certainty, that is probably not the case. Look kid, don’t stress yourself out over the idea. Even if you are tied to- the worse aspects of the past, then this may be an opportunity to move on and separate from them.”

While the Captain’s words aren’t the most comforting, they’re right, you don’t know enough about yourself to be making assumptions like that, but it is important to consider that if you do get memories back, they may not all be pleasant ones.

1/4

Kiocoatl 2022/02/23(Wed)20:45 No. 1024430 ID: c7b480
File 164567795543.png - (47.92KB , 500x500 , 0-36_2.png )

“...do you know anything about Viriskon culture?”

”Oh I knew a few things.”

“What’s it like?”

”Very… philosophical. It’s mainly centered around their belief system, Fetacivs. A big part about it is that they believe that basking in the light of certain stars will give them different powers. Lot of their politics is centered around finding those different stars that can be seen from their homeworld and making a claim to them- peacefully. They’ve already got stations around a lot of the very important ones. That’s mostly how they’ve been expanding since they ended their terraforming project.”

“Some of that… sounds familiar. I think I know some of the stars you’re talking about…”

”Really? …can you name any of them?”

“No, but when I think about the powers I have that’s how I remember them. Though a lot of them are still blurry and I can’t really make them out like I used to.”

”I see. Hopefully in time they become clearer.”

As the elevator drifts further and further along the Captain would come to a realization, ”Y’know, whenever a conierisk dies it’s- a really big deal. They live for quite a long time so, whenever it happens it’s all over the news. Natural death or not.”

“Have there been any recently? Maybe just knowing the name of my conierisk could help!”

”...that’s the thing I realized, no conierisk has passed away in over a hundred years or so.”

“So, maybe there’s a chance they’re alive?”

”-or it could’ve been covered up. Though, that’d be an extremely difficult cover up. I’d say it’s more likely that they could be alive. However they managed it.”

“I hope they are…”

That thought makes you feel a bit better about everything. Maybe they're looking for you out in the vastness of space. You can't imagine what it might be like when you finally reunite...

>>1023632
>>1023703
>>1023791

There’s still a lot more on your mind, but with the elevator nearing its destination those thoughts will have to be saved for later.

2/4

Kiocoatl 2022/02/23(Wed)20:46 No. 1024431 ID: c7b480
File 164567799758.png - (16.54KB , 500x500 , 0-36_3.png )

The elevator opens up and you feel some relief as you exit the small chamber. Oddly enough though the room is dark, not a problem with your impeccable vision, though it is definitely a contrast with everything until now. The room is littered with all sorts of objects big and small, quite the strange and undefined collection.

3/4

Kiocoatl 2022/02/23(Wed)20:47 No. 1024433 ID: c7b480
File 164567807326.gif - (608.36KB , 500x500 , 0-36_4.gif )

As the two of you step further in, lights from above would shine down on one particular curio on a table.

”And there she is, Minerva.”

“…what.”

It’s literally just a small figurine of a dancer.

You turn to the Captain with a face full of doubt, “This isn’t a joke right?”

”Why don’t you take a closer look?”

4/4

>>1024433
Oh! A shadow creature! That's very cool. I wonder if you can see more of her? Try switching between multiple light-related senses to see if anything more shows up. Ultraviolet, infrared, magnetic fields... can your energy sense power pick up anything more abstract like "life" or "soul"? Can you sense gravity?
When you check infrared again take a peek at the captain, to see if he doesn't show up on it, which would explain not being able to find him.

Also say hello! It's nice to meet her. She wanted to see you?

Immediately ask how that works! That's some bonafide magic! Also be polite and say hello

Poke the figurine

make shadow puppets - you're a shapeshifter, you can make anything

Boop the shadow with ur snoot and see what happen.

Honestly just try not to loose it at how cool Minerva is, luau dancer shadow creature is a powerful subclass. Show her some respect.

Oooh! Shadow creature! Try making a shadow puppet and see what it does?

>>1024620
this!

Kiocoatl 2022/03/03(Thu)05:42 No. 1025232 ID: c7b480
File 164631497566.png - (302.89KB , 500x500 , 0-37_1.png )

>>1024434

Seeing some kind of sentient shadow right before you immediately fills your mind with questions. No other types of vision seem to indicate anything out of the ordinary. Is she alive? Is this some kind of magic? What’s going on here? Maybe your energy sense can detect some kind of life force? You try to focus on that concept… and- woah! It’s beautiful, foreign, and at all the same time so familiar…

-for a second you glance back at the Captain with infrared vision, apparently there’s something really hot in there! Must’ve been outside the ship while you were looking for them.

>>1024620
>>1024829

You consider making shadow puppets, but you don’t seem to have any shapes on your mind, just the idea of it. You do wonder how she interacts with other shadows.

>>1024605
>>1024635

-plus as much as you really want to, it probably wouldn’t be the best to mess around someone you just met. Especially for someone you’re quite literally in debt to. You plan to be respectful, not only for her sake but for your own. Plus you’re not sure yet if she could destroy you or not.

1/4

Kiocoatl 2022/03/03(Thu)05:44 No. 1025233 ID: c7b480
File 164631509485.png - (8.43KB , 500x500 , 0-37_2.png )

As you’re busy staring in awe Minerva decides to get the pleasantries going, ”Captain Viridian, nice to see you. And- you as well, my new guest.”

“Kiocoatl. I- have a lot of questions.”

A laugh would come from the shadow, ”I’m sure you do! Why don’t we get those out of the way first then?”

>>1024602

“Okay, so, not to be rude, but- what are you? How are you? Are you using magic?”

”Oh I’m doing just fine, but I’m assuming you’re wondering how I’m taking form here. I am what is known as a rift shadow. …it’s not quite really what we are, but it’s what we’re called. Magic? As a Viriskon I am sure you are familiar with how your skill works and the way I exist is quite the same.

“Not… really. How is it the same?”

”Oh, well just like you I have more control over the rift than others naturally do, in my case I exist in the rift, and projecting myself into the physical realm is how I interact with it.”

“Huh… I, see…”

You’re learning more about yourself than anything else, your skill comes from the rift? You’ve got a feeling that you know more about this than you remember, but some of those memories are still fuzzy to you.

2/4

Kiocoatl 2022/03/03(Thu)05:46 No. 1025234 ID: c7b480
File 164631516549.gif - (48.56KB , 500x500 , 0-37_3.gif )

You hold those thoughts off for now.

“So- you wanted to see [i]me?[i/]

”Of course, it’s not often I meet Viriskon, especially one that’s tri-attuned, or attuned to Cosidual no less!”

“You know Cosidual?”

”Yes!- I mean, they’re a bona fide god, at least practically so. I find them very intriguing. See, I’ve been trying to learn more about them, because I’ve heard rumors that their consciousness exists in the rift. I want to figure out how they did it. Is there anything you could tell me about Cosidual, I’d certainly make it worth your time.”

As Minerva continues to explain her aspirations you feel that the Captain is a bit nervous…

“Oh. I’d love to help you, but- there’s a bit of an issue.”

”They’ve lost a majority of their memories.”

3/4

Kiocoatl 2022/03/03(Thu)05:47 No. 1025235 ID: c7b480
File 164631524145.gif - (34.90KB , 500x500 , 0-37_4.gif )

Quickly as the fact is laid out Minerva’s tone shifts, ”-oh you poor thing! I’m so sorry, I didn’t even realize what you had gone through.”

The light shifts and now she’s right in front of you giving your shadow a hug, it actually feels like you have arms around you! It’s nice…

“-it’s okay, I maaaybe should’ve led with that.”

”Is there anything that you can remember?”

“Well…” -you fill Minerva in on everything you can remember.

”You’re lucky to have someone like Cosidual watching over you, I can’t imagine what it’s like going through all these changes, I hope it hasn’t been too difficult to readjust.”

“There’s definitely a lot I need to relearn…”

”You’re in the best place you could possibly be then. We’ve got plenty of people here that can help with that.”

You’re being hugged by a shadow in command of an entire space station, what do you talk about now? The main reason she wanted to see you was kind of ruined by your memory loss.

4/4

What about the memory of being attuned? You could tell her about that.

Also you could talk about prospective employment, and what life is like around the station.

That concept you realized something about, the rift? Maybe you could get her to explain more about that, it might even awaken a memory.

Also, the view in energy vision definitely looks like a constellation. Does she have her own star-inspired skillset too?

>>1025250
This. Also, ask her more about the rift and what you have to do with it. You know some, but that some is what a farmer on a distant star might know, not what you should know.

I’d say if there’s anyone you can blindly trust about your history and powers, it’s this shadow creature you literally just met. Show em off, maybe they have an idea of what role you can fill on the station. Maybe even offer a little space adventure.

Moving forward, I guess you could ask about what job opportunities there are for you to work on your debt.

This >>1025411 & this >>1025413

Kiocoatl 2022/03/10(Thu)18:13 No. 1025881 ID: c7b480
File 164696480367.png - (7.47KB , 500x500 , 0-38_1.png )

>>1025250
-you did tell her about that, she even made reference to how Cosidual was watching you. Whatever that might mean.

”While your attunement ritual isn’t anything special- aside from being attuned to three main cores, the fact that Cosidual spoke to you most definitely is.”

>>1025411
Considering how familiar this rift sounds it must be important to you,
“The rift… what is it? Could you explain it?”

Minerva breaks the hug and backs away giving you a nod as she smiled, ”Certainly!”

Lights would illuminate some of the murals that decorated the room…

”As I understand it, rift energy is what all physical things are made of. Everything you see whittled down to its most basic components is composed of this energy. The rift itself is a plane where all this energy resides.”

1/5

Kiocoatl 2022/03/10(Thu)18:14 No. 1025882 ID: c7b480
File 164696486015.png - (6.07KB , 500x500 , 0-38_2.png )

”For a civilization to progress further and reach a galactic scale of influence, understanding and harnessing rift energy is essential. Simply discovering it’s existence, however, is far beyond what is needed to accomplish this.”

2/5

Kiocoatl 2022/03/10(Thu)18:14 No. 1025883 ID: c7b480
File 164696488350.png - (5.85KB , 500x500 , 0-38_3.png )

”Opening up a rift takes an extraordinary amount of energy and is the first step to traveling beyond a single solar system. It either takes the energy of an entire planet to be concentrated into a singular task, or a method of gathering energy from a nearby star. The moment a rift is opened though all energy barriers are destroyed. With access to the rift and it’s boundless energy more rifts can be opened using the rift itself.”

3/5

Kiocoatl 2022/03/10(Thu)18:15 No. 1025884 ID: c7b480
File 164696492801.gif - (226.54KB , 500x500 , 0-38_4.gif )

”By traveling through the rift ships can burn down the travel time of hopping from planet to planet into seconds, moving from solar system to solar system within hours and you could likely cross the galaxy within a week in a fast ship.”

”Furthermore… for those such as us, connected to entities that exist within the rift itself, we have something special. The power to manipulate rift energy. This is why I am so curious about Cosidual… I’d like to know what makes us similar.

>>1025260
“Hm. Do you have a constellation too?”

”Constellation? No- I’m not a follower of Fetacivs. The way Viriskon look at the rift is one of the things that sets us apart.”

4/5

Kiocoatl 2022/03/10(Thu)18:16 No. 1025885 ID: c7b480
File 164696500691.png - (8.24KB , 500x500 , 0-38_5.png )

>>1025413
With Minerva's explanation of the rift concluded another question crosses your mind, “Could we talk about what it’s like working here?”

”Oh- I’m sure Viridian can help you with that.”

”Of course, I can show you around the station some- if we’re done here.” The Captain would glance up to Minerva momentarily for approval.

”I have no further questions, so unless there’s more you’d like to hear from me then you’re free to explore the station.”

…what else could you ask Minerva about? Or is it time to see more of the station to see what kind of work is ahead of you?

5/5

How does she see the world? Not mechanically, but... what does it look like, to her?

It’s time to get out of here and start the grind. Need to work off those slave hours somehow.

Also does this mean you can store energy in the rift? Is that a way to sidestep energy not being created or destroyed? Just shove it all in a hole.

We should ask what sort of work we can do for them to pay off our little fix debt. If there is any tasks we can do that are worth more work time and the like. Idle hands are the devils playthings!

Let's check out what kinda work we can do on the ship, or what opportunities await for us.

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:05 No. 1027765 ID: c7b480
File 164876795942.png - (14.18KB , 500x500 , 0-39_1.png )

>>1025890
You’ve got one more question in you about Minerva…
“How do you see the world?”

”Figuratively? Or literally?”
“Uhhh-”
”Hm, both are practically the same for me. I’ve told you what I understand about the rift, I see everything as one. We all come from the same things, but it’s what we do with it that defines ‘us’. I am defined by my actions, just as we all are.”

“Wow…” You turn your head toward the Captain, “-alright, I think I’m ready to move on.”

Before he has a chance to say something Minerva would speak up, ”Actually… Viridian, I need to speak to you on a few things, privately.”

”Oh. Okay ma’am.” The Captain would nod to Minerva before looking toward you, ”I’m sure you can handle yourself on your own, just head down to housing and call Rala on the tablet I gave you, they’ll tell you about what kind of work there is to be done around the station.”

With directions, and the pressure that you should leave these two to whatever important conversation they’re about to have, you part ways, saying your goodbyes to the two as you enter the elevator…

1/6

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:07 No. 1027766 ID: c7b480
File 164876802455.gif - (514.85KB , 500x500 , 0-39_2.gif )

…it’s quiet. It wasn’t really on your mind before but this elevator gave you a bad feeling. Why is that?

You try to focus on-

The walls are closing in around you.

You are alone.

Metal shutters around you as the pieces of your vessel are battered by asteroids.
The walls, choking you moving in closer and closer.

You are alone.

You feel your thoughts drain from your core as nothing but fear sets in.

The walls peel back, giving way to the abyss.

You are alone.

You feel your entire being break into innumerable pieces.

2/6

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:07 No. 1027767 ID: c7b480
File 164876806624.gif - (53.36KB , 500x500 , 0-39_3.gif )

…

You’re out.

A large wave of relief hits you as you open your eyes and see people around.

You take a few minutes to regather yourself…

3/6

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:08 No. 1027770 ID: c7b480
File 164876810669.gif - (636.28KB , 500x500 , 0-39_4.gif )

-wait where did you even put that tablet?

And just out of thin air it materializes before you! …you have no idea how you did that.

How do you use this thing? Is it a touch screen? -oh, it comes with a pen!

It doesn’t take long to figure out how this technology works so you let Rala know where you are.

”Hey, I’m not too far from the elevator. Why don’t we talk in person?”

4/6

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:09 No. 1027771 ID: c7b480
File 164876817806.png - (45.77KB , 500x500 , 0-39_5.png )

Not too long after calling them Rala arrives with one of their holograms, you consider talking about what happened in the elevator, but out of anything in the universe, you do not want to think about it. You just want to get to work and put it behind you…

>>1026006
>>1026008
>>1026074
“So what kind of work is there to do around here?”
”Well, usually we take on missions but things have been slow lately… not a lot for us to do right now. Let me think…”

5/6

Suggestion 2022/03/31(Thu)16:10 No. 1027772 ID: c7b480
File 164876821436.png - (56.30KB , 500x500 , 0-39_6.png )

”The ship bay could always use more hands, it’s a good place for meeting all kinds of people, and plenty of unique ships dock at our station. Mostly the work is just helping load and unload cargo or doing ship repairs.”

”Alternatively the power station has been a little understaffed. It’s not really exciting work, just monitoring the coils making sure everything is running at peak efficiency, but I’m sure those working there would be eager to train someone, it’s a good place to learn more about how the rift works.”

”Which one do you think you’d like to do? I can help you get introduced.”

6/6

>>1027766
Oops, looks like we've got some PTSD triggered by confined spaces.

>>1027767
Hey there's a quadruped over there. Are they of our kind?

>>1027772
Power station maintenance seems like it would be perfect for our skills. We can literally see electricity, and can interface with machines! Also it's our calling to learn about the rift, I think.

>>1027772
I think the power station sounds like a plan!

Time for some power station training time, but first a lil detour. This is your first time being in a crowd, maybe go talk to some aliens first and see if you can remember how to have small talk. Meet some cool aliens n stuff, that quadruped and the snake thing next to it look cool. Go bother them first.

Lets do power station stuff. Monitoring some coils will allow for some introspection and the like.

Power station feels like it could be up our alley.