Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start

[Pulpatoon]

"Marvelous! Do lead the way, we'll be right behind you, bearing gifts and whatnot."

Is the Professor familiar with this Mind?

[Rukellian]

"Marvelous! Do lead the way, we'll be right behind you, bearing gifts and whatnot."

Is the Professor familiar with this Mind?

You are not familiar with the term, but the way they spoke the word, the reverence behind it, it held significant meaning. You can guess that it is a very important individual or group of individuals.

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor follows the gorilla.

[PyroArrow]

Maximillian Arikas:

Max picks up their luggage & follows the Professor & Gorillas.

[Rukellian]

Instead of taking one of the various flying vehicles found zooming all over the place, you are escorted on foot. A lot of the structures are bare and spartan in design, but are futuristic enough to pass off as alien architecture, showing great foundational design and structural integrity. Even Max is able to pick up on this by merely looking upon the buildings. Among the streets and various buildings that they pass, no signs of any kind of writing are found. No visible language based off of characters, or even hieroglyphics are noticeable. Instead, everything that that they would expect to be in writing is represented with a single shaped design or series of shapes. They are solid in appearance, and seem to jump out at you, but then they are also ghost like in appearance, as if they were but illusions of the mind.

The professor, upon seeing these shapes and designs, theorizes it to be a basic form of communication that does not require any transmission of thoughts. Much like how we see a red octagon and think stop, or a yellow triangle and think slow down.

As the two supers walk for what seems like an hour or so, marveling at all of the activity before them, they arrive at a huge cathedral of similar architectural design. Noticeably the largest building found in the city, you can tell that it ascends quite a distance upwards and that it is the heart of this underwater city ship. The doors open before you with much more ease as you now know the basics of how to think around here. The gorillas take note of this, nodding their heads in approval, as if you passed another test of their's.

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Walking inside the cathedral for some distance, you find yourself at the end of a corridor, two more honor guard gorillas on each side of a door in front of you. They raise their weapons to allow entrance and the doors opens.

What you see next is... unexpected. The room you enter is empty, save a cylindrical column on the floor, flat and inactive. The walls are all bare and there is nothing in the room to help in its definition. As you approach the flat column in the center of the room, something flickers within its center and an orb of what appears to be pure energy rises forth, hovering above all but stationary.

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Then it speaks to you telepathically. "Welcome Professor Percival Perryton, Maximillian Arikas. We have been expecting you for some time now." As the orb speaks to you, ripples appear on its outer surface, as if rocks were being dropped into a puddle of water. The voice itself, projects itself greatly, and reminds you of how a god would sound if you ever heard one speak.

[Pulpatoon]

Professor Peryton: "We are flattered by your attention and expectation, and honored by our reception in this magnificent metropolis. Shall I take it that you are, erm... The Mind of Lost Gorillapolis?"

[PyroArrow]

Maximillan Arikas says:

"Uhmm, Yea, Greetings! Nice city ship you have here!"

"Oh, yea, are you perhaps a Mind of the whole of the city ship or individual like the Professor & I?"

[Rukellian]

"You are both correct in your statements. I am the collective mind of the Kalikanzic moon tribe, and I am also the mind of myself, though if I were to try to explain what exactly 'myself' would entail, even you, professor, would have a hard time grasping idea. Suffice to say, I am the collective intelligence of more than just one race of sentient beings."

[Pulpatoon]

Professor Peryton pulls out a pocket-sized spiral-bound notebook and a small pencil. "Fascinating," he says, wetting the tip of the pencil with his tongue and beginning to write notes in what appears to be a combination of shorthand, Esperanto, and Mayan glyphs. "I don't wish to impose on one who surely bears great responsibilities, and this may not be a good time, but I would certainly love to make an attempt at understanding more of your nature, however futile. The nature of consciousness is at the very core of so much of what my studies entail, and you would appear to represent an absolutely fascinating iteration of the collective model..."

The Professor reluctantly closes his notebook. "Perhaps we could find some time for an interview, later in the visit, yes?"

"To the matters at hand: When making arrangements for this expedition with your people, I gathered that there were certain materials you were in need of, and I have done my best to collect them. It would be our honor to present these in thanks for your hospitality. Shall I present them now, to you, or are there... oh, functionaries or some such I should pass them over to?"

[Rukellian]

"We are a self-sustaining colony at best, but even we lack in certain materials that would allow exit of this planet's atmosphere, safely. We trust that you have brought the Vibranium ore desposit and the... other item? You do not have to answer though, you thoughts have already told me on a subconcious level. You may leave the requested items with one of the honor guard, they will make sure it gets into the right set of hands."

After the transferrence of the suitcase and other parcels are a complete, the Mind then speaks once more. "The city is open to you as well as all of our collective knowledge obtained over million's of years. Though I would ask that you only part this place with this one piece of knowledge that I am about to share, for everything else is.... not ready for man, as it stands right now. Do YOU understand Maximillian Arikas?"

[PyroArrow]

Maximillan Arikas says:

"Huh, Yes, oh yea, Yes, i understand!"

[Rukellian]

"We would like to bring to your attention the existence of something called Ichnorite. It is an alien substance to your world but through a series of forced events, this is no longer the case. For the past three years we have been monitoring the planet's biosphere, checking for any irregularities that may crop up from time to time, and fixing them as we see fit. This ichnorite has caused a disturbance in this planet's natural evolutionary cycle, terraforming lands, mutating creatures, and slowly yet steadily, poisoning the dominant species on this planet, humankind.

There are currently those who seek to collect this alien substance, and use it to fuel their own selfish agendas, making money, making war, making a new breed of man.... the list goes on. Even as we speak, groups full of vile intent are learning how to cultivate and use Ichnorite for their own gains. Rook Industries, a weapons manufacturer is one of such orgainizations that have come up in our mental scans. Indeed, this substance was introduced to your planet thousands of years too early. And as a result, we can already foresee the slow collapse of this planet, a similiar one that has happened to countless others in the multiverse as we know it. Ichnorite will spread like a plague, uncurable and highly lethal. It will consume this planet and all those who dare use it, without fail."

Mental images of what the Mind speaks of flashes into mind, glimpses that seem like it could very well be from the future!

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"Given our current level of technological prowess, we have created a way to safely use this ichnorite to fuel most of our equipment and the ship as a whole. We needed the Vibranium deposit to help repair some of the ship engines that got damaged during our crash landing into this planet's body of water. Vibranium is the key to stabilizing and ultimately breaking down the Ichnorite deposits that we use. Your planet has a natural supply of said Vibranium, this we have confirmed using our own technology.

This is the information that we wish to impart onto your race, the threats of Ichnorite and how to get rid of it using Vibranium. We cannot interfere any more in the affairs of this planet, and after we repair our ship, we will leave promptly. Know that you are not alone on this mission to save your planet. We have been keeping mental track of other super powered beings who work towards the same goal, and you can find them in a territory known as Rhode Island."

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor: "Thank you for sharing this. It... well, this changes everything, yes?

"I have many question about the nature of this... Ichnorite: how it works, whence it came, where it is deposited, who seeks it, and how it might be converted. In the time you have before your repairs are effected, I hope you will follow through on the act of generosity that led you to share knowledge of this grave threat with us, and educate us on these matters. You will find us eager and capable students."

[PyroArrow]

Maximillan Arikas says to the Professor:

"Holy cow! We've got some work to do Professor!

To the Mind:

"Did you by chance try to warn us via a movie director named Bryan Singer?"
"Have you seen his "Superman Returns" Movie?"
"Should we be on the lookout for a Lex Luthor type that may seek the Ichnorite."

[Rukellian]

"We are unfamiliar with the terms that Maximillian Arikas makes mention of. Professor Percival Perryton, we shall endeavor to share with you all that we know, and what others know, about Ichnorite, in the hopes that you all can combat it properly and those who wish to misuse it."

In order to save time, I will present all of the information on Ichnorite to you guys in the form of a list. If after reading through the list, you find that certain areas need clarification, I will either elaborate on it or choose to let you guys figure it out for yourselves. Most of this will be posts pulled from other threads in this campaign, quotes from other npcs.

Information about Ichnorite:
The physical components are broken up into 42.5% phosphorus, 32.5% iron, 15.25% calcium, 5.75% copper, 2.5% silica, and 1.5% unknown substances. The gaseous emissions are composed of 22% methane, 19% sulfur, 12% naphthalene, 10% argon, 6% isobutane, 2% xylene, and remaining 29% are unknown.

"The substance is alien in origin, biological to be exact, highly volatile. It is an organism in itself, but not as what we are accustomed to dealing with. If rocks could interact with its environment on a genetic level, that's what this substance is. It has gone by many names. From my dimension, a great villian once named it Ichnorite, a reference to the place that he found it in. Needless to say, anything that is abused will cause harm; it just so happens that this Ichnorite can cause worldwide cataclysimic damage if given the proper catalyst. You sensed my fear and rightly so, for I know that it is a destroyer of worlds and that his universe was thousands of years to early for something like this...."

"Where do I begin? I only know so much about the material as it stands. You now know that the substance in question is an organic living thing, an alien as the people on this earth will no doubt refer to it as. But it is more than just a living organism, it is a resource, a crystalline state of matter that is capable of reproduction on a massive scale. If left uncheck, it can terraform the entire planet into an uninhabitable wasteland, or at least uninhabitable to us humans and supers.

"On my home dimension, we faced the threat of the ichnorite spread and barely scraped out of that mess, finally being able to eliminate it using a special alloy called Vibranium. You see, at first it just started out as a meteorite with a small spread of crystal. We did not know about its landing until some time later after it was able to start terraforming the area around its impact zone. We were skeptical of it at first, but then some of our top minds found some uses for it. A powerful energy source that replaced nuclear energy, a weapon to be used in biological warfare, a source of valuable minerals and gases that could be harvested and sold for vast amounts of money.

"Two great wars were waged over this substance, and as the continual use of the substance grew, so did its spread across the globe. Soon enough, a nation's superweapon was fired upon it. The shockwaves spanned continents and leveled entire cities and countries. The substance was almost uncontrollable and we all had to stop fighting one another to halt its spread and eliminate it, before we lost our home world. History will repeat itself, though its a history that this dimension has yet to meet. Regardless, the same events will follow suit if we do nothing to prevent it. Already, it can be found on the black market, I fear how much it has already been used, its uses discovered."

-Maurice Sheldon, a contact to another super in this game

"This island was not originally my creation at first. Three years ago, an alien meteor crashed into the surrounding area. The meteorite contained bio-organic crystalline deposits called Ichnorite. This substance has been rapidly terraforming this land into the alien landscape you gazed upon just moments ago. I have been visiting this place with great interest for the past few years, setting up a laboratory for my research and collecting samples from the local environment. Over time, I was able to apply my research on to the field, learning how to change the landscape and various flora and fauna myself. What soon became a natural phenomenon, was slowly turning into an experiment of my own."

-Symbiosis, a villian found in another arc in this campaign

Information on Vibranium:

Elsa is the first born daughter of King and Queen Arendel. Rulers of a small island nation near the Kara Sea of Northern Russia.
Generations ago, the nation founded by her great ancestors was found to be rich in a substance known as Vibranium, which was most likely deposited in the soil from a meteorite detonation above northern Russia, thousands of years ago.

-Character Sheet Thread

Vibranium ore contains crystalline deposits that can make use of harmonic resonance to break down ichnorite on a molecular level, effectively sterilizing any areas of ichnorite contanimation. The techonology used to harness the potential from Vibranium is derived from the advanced technology institutes of New Germany, situated in the collapsed dimension mentioned earlier on in the campaign prologue. In this dimension, Vibranium can only be found in the small island nation near the Kara Sea of Northern Russia. It is a highly guarded export and its potential is yet to be realized. New Germany is yet to be founded, and harmonic resonance technology has not been perfected yet.

[Pulpatoon]

The Professor studies the provided information, making notes.

"Hmm. A replicating crystalline contagion that provides both energy and material resources. Powerful and dangerous, yes, yes. And contained to a single location, at present? This island?"

"This Symbiosis person is not, I take it, trustworthy? And there are... immigrants from another dimension with some expertise in the subject. Are you aware of any others who know of the material?"

"And vibranium, of course. Bizarre stuff, straddles the line between science and... not-science, my line of work. Extensive research, yes, massive engineering, to both contain and eventually exploit the stuff."

"Maximillan, what do you think? Where should we focus our efforts? Should we seek t secure the Inchorite or some Vibranium?"

He asks the Mind, "I know you and your people are eager to return to your rightful place after many long years in exile. I would ask however, if you would put this question to your people: Would any of them volunteer to stay behind and assist their sister world from this threat? The strength, character, and expertise of your people would be a great asset. We know it is a great sacrifice to ask, but we also know that your people are deeply honorable and courageous."

"Any material assistance you might be able to spare would be appreciated, as well. Equipment for locating or dealing with Inchorite, methods of working with Vibranium, perhaps some speedier transportation to our next destination, as, honestly, the submarine is less than ideal."

[Rukellian]

"We know not the morality of individuals or organizations, only that they were mentioned. If we were to use your standards of good and evil when judging the human race, we would probably have reason to intervene forcibly; but that is not our intentions or desires. We, as a higher race, know not to inferfere in the growth and development of any sentient being and its people.

Maurice Sheldon, Symbiosis, Rook Industries, Arikas Shipping Inc., Cortez, Steve Sanderson, Scamp, Raven, Nelson Warren, Blake Hayes, Hot Streak, Vorpal, Elsa, Permafrost and countless others have been made mention when Ichnorite and Vibranium surfaced in people's thoughts. We know not their affiliations, their moral temperment, or the extent of how much they truly know. Some minds are more easily read than others, as you may understand.

The Kalikanzic Tribe has already come to the agreement that none shall directly assist you. Even more so as of now, considering that your hired hands have been caught trying to steal technologies away onto their craft. Our enforcers are dealing with them as we speak and your ship is to be impounded, indefinitely. We understand that you two are not of the same mind and genuinely seek to aid your planet. We can prepare transportation, but know that it is one way and that you will probably never see us again."

[Pulpatoon]

"I am saddened to hear that the crew which brought us here have acted criminally. And I mourn the loss of contact with your people. Thank you for your information, and the promise of transportation. I trust you to deal with the crew justly, but if you wish to return them to us, we will see to it that they are turned over to the proper authorities, and made to pay for this unforgivable breech of trust."

The Professor hurriedly jots down the names the Mind rattled off.

"Looks like we need to have a conversation with your father, Maximillian. It was clear he had something untoward on his mind, before we left, but I chose discretion over inquiry. That may have been a mistake."

[Rukellian]

"Under better circumstances, we would have preferred a much lengthier dialogue as well. Understand that we share in your sorrow, but choose not to outwardly express it. You are a rare mind amongst men Professor Percival Perryton. If you are to encounter us again, know that you are welcome, the both you."

And without any further delay, a stream of known locations start to run through the minds of the two supers. The university, the Arikas Shipping Headquarters, the seaport, and countless other locations that the professor and Max have been to in their lives. As they gaze upon this display of information, the Mind's thoughts echo within their own, explaining that they can pick any one of these destinations and will be transported there almost immediately.

This raises a burning question in the professor's mind, if this is to be a form of teleportation. The theories and practical applications of quantum teleportation is still very much in its infancy right now, but if the Kalikanzic tribe has perfected this, or perhaps the Mind more specifically, there is so much that he would like to ask. The professor knows though that the dialogues have ended and that any further questioning would outstay their welcome and sully the tribe's hospitality.

[PyroArrow]

Maximillan Arikas says to the Professor:

"Uhmm, hmmm, maybe look for the ichnorite first before someone tries to use it."
"However, it would be useful to secure some Vibranium first, in case we have to use it on the ichnorite right away."
"Maybe try the Shipping Port or Arikas Shipping Headquarters?"