March 2005 - Post Selection
ON : Ancient relics
Day:5 Time: 08.42 Scene: Ipohk - Camp one
In keeping with all their frequent wanderings, treks that took them across the wild, expansive and inhospitable deserts of Ipohk, Basharth's (npc) people were always excited to find others encamped along their way. Such infrequent meetings meant an opportunity to gain news, and perhaps, trade goods with those they chanced to meet.
It was daylight when they walked into the isolated single tented camp, and even at this time, the sun was beginning to spread its warmth everywhere. Upon seeing two members of this camp, a broad smile filled Basharth's face, as he saw them looking in his direction.
"Greetings upon your camp." Basharth said, holding out his open outstretched hand towards the tall Ipohkian. "I am Basharth, leader of this caravan." He announced proudly.
"Ahum! Greetings upon you and your people." The tall man replied. "And I am Golanth, leader of our small and humble caravan, my friend." He added as he took Basharth's proffered hand and shook it quite violently in his vice-like grip.
"Pardon me for being so... inquisitive. But you are indeed very tall for an Ipohkian." He stated, trying to ignore his now aching fingers, while continuing to retain his smile. "I cannot recollect having seen your kind before?" He said questioningly.
By now, the others belonging to the caravan had gathered around Gol'Khar and June Craig, each chattering quietly to each other and smiling pleasantly. Their pack animals bore a strange resemblance between the Terran Camel and a Lama. Each animal carried large packs slung over their backs, and each wore a type of visor that was positioned on their heads, a method with which to shield their eyes from the sun's glare and the sharp wind-blown sands. These animals were now hurriedly placed in a group, where they were watered, while at the same time, their packs were temporarily removed by some of the group, to lighten their burden.
"Nor I you, my friend. We are from far away, a land in the southern hemisphere, and have set up camp before moving on to meet with our companions to the east." Gol'Khar announced with a smile, while trying not to look at June's face, because she was obviously enjoying his predicament. "This is Juncar, my companion." He announced suddenly in an attempt to put some of this situation into her hands.
"Greetings be with you, Juncar." Basharth said to June, his teeth flashing in the sunlight as he held out his hand to take hers. "It is indeed a great pleasure to meet with one so beautiful as you are."
"My pleasure, I'm sure." She replied with a smile that almost equalled his. "I bet you say that to all the women you meet? Won't you take some tea with us?" She suggested, knowing that it was a universal beverage, even here on Ipohk.
"Thank you, we will accept your invitation with pleasure." Basharth said, and still smiling, he motioned to the others to come forward, with a slight wave of his right arm.
Basharth was always happy to meet such friendly travellers, always a scarce event in this otherwise hostile and unfriendly landscape. Before any of his own people had chance to approach, he noticed that Juncar had spread out a mat on the sandy ground, and had placed a steaming receptacle at it's centre. Taking this opportunity to glance around this new camp, he saw that the people who he had seen on their approach to this camp, had the appearance of searching for something. He didn't wish to impose himself on those who had invited him to drink with them, but intense curiosity was slowly getting the better of him. While Juncar placed a glass before each of his people, he decided that he must say something.
"Many pardons be upon your good selves... But I cannot have helped but notice that your people appear to be searching for something. Is there any way that we may be of service to you, Golanth?" He asked with typical Ipohkian sincerity. Then sitting down, he reached out for the glass that Juncar had now filled with the hot aromatic tea.
"We thank you for your concern, Basharth." Gol'Khar replied. "One of my people has lost something upon the chosen camp of our journey into this land, and it can only have fallen while we were preparing to enter this campsite. It is nothing really, a belonging of one of my people who became careless in her eagerness to get here." At which point, Ensign Marrin and Lt Berg (npc) returned to the group and sat down to join them.
"Nonetheless, we would be happy to offer our services as one traveller to another?" He replied, suddenly noticing the absence of any animals in or around the camp. However, he preferred not mention this for now.
"It will not be necessary, I can assure you. But my people have grown lazy and are in need of the exercise. It is the way of our people, my friend, nothing more." He added with a smile, not wishing to appear in any way unfriendly to the Ipohkian.
Basharth shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to impose himself on the misfortunes of others. He had met many like Golanth before, although none who were as tall and strong in appearance as he was. Well, he was not one to outstay his welcome, and in the meantime, he settled down to drink this new, yet extremely fine tasting tea offered by the beautiful Juncar. He smiled again as he noticed her looking at him from where she sat.
After about half an hour, the general conversation between those present turned to a subject that was quite unexpected. Basharth began to recount what he had been told and retold time and time again during his lifetime.
"It is strange," He began. "When first I saw your people searching, I had assumed that they were seeking what we call, the ancient relics of the skies."
"Ancient relics?!" Gol'Khar said in surprise.
"You have never heard of these?" Basharth asked, noticing Golanth's reaction to his statement.
"We know nothing of any ancient relics, and certainly not in this northern hemisphere. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us about these... relics?"
"But of course." Basharth replied, delighted that he could tell this story to someone who had never heard of the ancient relics of the skies before. "It was long long ago, long before my parents were born. It was said that during a period when these deserts were much more than they are today, a huge mountain range stood on this very spot." He waved his arms to encompass the area around which they were sitting. "During the darkness of the sun's passing, it is said that a huge fireball fell from the skies and struck the mountains, reducing them to no more than large hillocks of rock and dust. At the very moment the object struck, a terrifying and blinding flash lit up the skies, until it was thought that daylight and the sun had returned early."
Basharth paused to catch his breath, looking round at the faces of those sitting in the camp, and seeing immense interest in their eyes, as they in turn looked back at him. Some of his own group urged him to continue, which he eagerly accepted to do.
"The brilliance of the light lasted for what seemed a very long time, that is until the time of the winds sweeping across the land, and the changing of the colour in the sky. Slowly, the sky changed from white, through to yellow and then red. Finally, nothing but a great pall of black smoke remained."
Gol'Khar and the others glanced at each other, having a pretty good idea as to what had occurred long ago. But they said nothing, allowing Basharth to continue his tale.
"It is said that two of our race who we recognize as being amongst our spiritual leaders, came upon this scene to see what had happened here. At first, they found nothing but devastation, and a huge hole in the ground with fire burning fiercely at its centre. Peering across the desert further, they saw something mysterious... I cannot say what it was, for it remains a secret that one of our leaders took to his grave. The other, wrote of his epic journey, and in his words, he said that he had located some relics, the relics of the skies. And that, my friends, is the end of this tale. His written words were discovered long ago, but of him and the relics he had found, there has never been a sign. Since that time, the great winds of the sun's passing have changed the landscape beyond our recognition, leaving nothing but the desert as you see it today."
"Interesting." Gol'Khar announced with a frown. "We too, have many tales from our ancestors, but they are too many and too long to recount here. Perhaps when we meet again?" He said, looking at this friends.
OFF :
Lieutenant Gol'Khar
CSciO
USS Dark Matter
On behalf of : Basharth, leader of the Ipohkian caravan.
Day:5 Time: 08.42 Scene: Ipohk - Camp one
In keeping with all their frequent wanderings, treks that took them across the wild, expansive and inhospitable deserts of Ipohk, Basharth's (npc) people were always excited to find others encamped along their way. Such infrequent meetings meant an opportunity to gain news, and perhaps, trade goods with those they chanced to meet.
It was daylight when they walked into the isolated single tented camp, and even at this time, the sun was beginning to spread its warmth everywhere. Upon seeing two members of this camp, a broad smile filled Basharth's face, as he saw them looking in his direction.
"Greetings upon your camp." Basharth said, holding out his open outstretched hand towards the tall Ipohkian. "I am Basharth, leader of this caravan." He announced proudly.
"Ahum! Greetings upon you and your people." The tall man replied. "And I am Golanth, leader of our small and humble caravan, my friend." He added as he took Basharth's proffered hand and shook it quite violently in his vice-like grip.
"Pardon me for being so... inquisitive. But you are indeed very tall for an Ipohkian." He stated, trying to ignore his now aching fingers, while continuing to retain his smile. "I cannot recollect having seen your kind before?" He said questioningly.
By now, the others belonging to the caravan had gathered around Gol'Khar and June Craig, each chattering quietly to each other and smiling pleasantly. Their pack animals bore a strange resemblance between the Terran Camel and a Lama. Each animal carried large packs slung over their backs, and each wore a type of visor that was positioned on their heads, a method with which to shield their eyes from the sun's glare and the sharp wind-blown sands. These animals were now hurriedly placed in a group, where they were watered, while at the same time, their packs were temporarily removed by some of the group, to lighten their burden.
"Nor I you, my friend. We are from far away, a land in the southern hemisphere, and have set up camp before moving on to meet with our companions to the east." Gol'Khar announced with a smile, while trying not to look at June's face, because she was obviously enjoying his predicament. "This is Juncar, my companion." He announced suddenly in an attempt to put some of this situation into her hands.
"Greetings be with you, Juncar." Basharth said to June, his teeth flashing in the sunlight as he held out his hand to take hers. "It is indeed a great pleasure to meet with one so beautiful as you are."
"My pleasure, I'm sure." She replied with a smile that almost equalled his. "I bet you say that to all the women you meet? Won't you take some tea with us?" She suggested, knowing that it was a universal beverage, even here on Ipohk.
"Thank you, we will accept your invitation with pleasure." Basharth said, and still smiling, he motioned to the others to come forward, with a slight wave of his right arm.
Basharth was always happy to meet such friendly travellers, always a scarce event in this otherwise hostile and unfriendly landscape. Before any of his own people had chance to approach, he noticed that Juncar had spread out a mat on the sandy ground, and had placed a steaming receptacle at it's centre. Taking this opportunity to glance around this new camp, he saw that the people who he had seen on their approach to this camp, had the appearance of searching for something. He didn't wish to impose himself on those who had invited him to drink with them, but intense curiosity was slowly getting the better of him. While Juncar placed a glass before each of his people, he decided that he must say something.
"Many pardons be upon your good selves... But I cannot have helped but notice that your people appear to be searching for something. Is there any way that we may be of service to you, Golanth?" He asked with typical Ipohkian sincerity. Then sitting down, he reached out for the glass that Juncar had now filled with the hot aromatic tea.
"We thank you for your concern, Basharth." Gol'Khar replied. "One of my people has lost something upon the chosen camp of our journey into this land, and it can only have fallen while we were preparing to enter this campsite. It is nothing really, a belonging of one of my people who became careless in her eagerness to get here." At which point, Ensign Marrin and Lt Berg (npc) returned to the group and sat down to join them.
"Nonetheless, we would be happy to offer our services as one traveller to another?" He replied, suddenly noticing the absence of any animals in or around the camp. However, he preferred not mention this for now.
"It will not be necessary, I can assure you. But my people have grown lazy and are in need of the exercise. It is the way of our people, my friend, nothing more." He added with a smile, not wishing to appear in any way unfriendly to the Ipohkian.
Basharth shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to impose himself on the misfortunes of others. He had met many like Golanth before, although none who were as tall and strong in appearance as he was. Well, he was not one to outstay his welcome, and in the meantime, he settled down to drink this new, yet extremely fine tasting tea offered by the beautiful Juncar. He smiled again as he noticed her looking at him from where she sat.
After about half an hour, the general conversation between those present turned to a subject that was quite unexpected. Basharth began to recount what he had been told and retold time and time again during his lifetime.
"It is strange," He began. "When first I saw your people searching, I had assumed that they were seeking what we call, the ancient relics of the skies."
"Ancient relics?!" Gol'Khar said in surprise.
"You have never heard of these?" Basharth asked, noticing Golanth's reaction to his statement.
"We know nothing of any ancient relics, and certainly not in this northern hemisphere. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us about these... relics?"
"But of course." Basharth replied, delighted that he could tell this story to someone who had never heard of the ancient relics of the skies before. "It was long long ago, long before my parents were born. It was said that during a period when these deserts were much more than they are today, a huge mountain range stood on this very spot." He waved his arms to encompass the area around which they were sitting. "During the darkness of the sun's passing, it is said that a huge fireball fell from the skies and struck the mountains, reducing them to no more than large hillocks of rock and dust. At the very moment the object struck, a terrifying and blinding flash lit up the skies, until it was thought that daylight and the sun had returned early."
Basharth paused to catch his breath, looking round at the faces of those sitting in the camp, and seeing immense interest in their eyes, as they in turn looked back at him. Some of his own group urged him to continue, which he eagerly accepted to do.
"The brilliance of the light lasted for what seemed a very long time, that is until the time of the winds sweeping across the land, and the changing of the colour in the sky. Slowly, the sky changed from white, through to yellow and then red. Finally, nothing but a great pall of black smoke remained."
Gol'Khar and the others glanced at each other, having a pretty good idea as to what had occurred long ago. But they said nothing, allowing Basharth to continue his tale.
"It is said that two of our race who we recognize as being amongst our spiritual leaders, came upon this scene to see what had happened here. At first, they found nothing but devastation, and a huge hole in the ground with fire burning fiercely at its centre. Peering across the desert further, they saw something mysterious... I cannot say what it was, for it remains a secret that one of our leaders took to his grave. The other, wrote of his epic journey, and in his words, he said that he had located some relics, the relics of the skies. And that, my friends, is the end of this tale. His written words were discovered long ago, but of him and the relics he had found, there has never been a sign. Since that time, the great winds of the sun's passing have changed the landscape beyond our recognition, leaving nothing but the desert as you see it today."
"Interesting." Gol'Khar announced with a frown. "We too, have many tales from our ancestors, but they are too many and too long to recount here. Perhaps when we meet again?" He said, looking at this friends.
OFF :
Lieutenant Gol'Khar
CSciO
USS Dark Matter
On behalf of : Basharth, leader of the Ipohkian caravan.