Dev Shadows of Atrisia

[Junko Ike]

"These women are built like the horselords." Uzaki said it standing next to her and she seemed to be in awe as they were towered over.. JUnko wasn't petite but she was still small compared to many of them and Uzaki was smaller then her but she was fit and able to do her job... which meant she had a lot more strength then she let on. That she voiced what Junko thought as they walked among the village was a fun one and the jedi princess was looking at the villagers who were all lined up and looking at them. Their light blue kimono's in contrast to many of the other things around them.. the vilage was dark woods over the metal bones of the living modules.

"Welcome Princess, I am Manyuu." She said it and was large, muscled and her hair was black in cascading waves down her back to her ankles. It wasn't wild but it was the closest thing to it as Junko followed her and tried to keep up with her larger strides through the village. Everything here was larger to fit for them but it was also she could see well beautiful... each of the women were like the kansei... well trained and fit which gave their village a sense of wonder and draw... she could spend a few days... no weeks here not being bored she could imagine... gee she was driven by base desires even as a jedi but none of them seemed to be... well against it if the artwork was anything to go by.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking at it and the murals they had painted were one thing.. the statues and the carvings from wood were another as she could see the detail was painfully there... more so they were just pretty and JUnko smiled seeing some of it as Uzaki gasped. "That is all so." She said it and Junko stopped her from speaking with a hand over her mouth before she was walking towards the buildings. "Shhh just relax, if you bring attention to your shock then it makes things weird and not in the fun way like with handcuffs." SHe said it and was straight faced as one of the villages who was walking with them looked over snickering.

JUnko looked at her and nodded her head... cause where was she wrong... just someone would have to tell her. "Besides we were invited here because of something other then art... I think they said there was a problem... maybe later there can be some art." Junko nodded and they would be something beautiful to have in a statue form for her garden... any of them really... She could have the pick of the litter as it were but first thing was first as they were coming into the table here... the raised platform in the center of the room surrounded by a few of the villages in their kimono's and a mixture of her guards and them in their armor forming a circle that wasn't hostile.

 

[Junko Ike]

"I guess you ladies like to use protection." Junko said it and could see one of her handmaidens smack her own forehead at it... one of the vilagers didn't snicker but shifted to prevent herself from doing it... see humor was good even dumb humor... sometimes it helped to be so smart cause you were being stupid. THe jedi princess was looking at some of the other things they had here... what else could she notice this far down. She was seeing parts of the building where they were growing fruit and food... the living modules modified to grow rice easily enough but there was expansion to turn it into hanging gardens of fruit that was around..

"CHarming, your wit princess is everything promised." Junko snickered at that. "THank you, I try to at least not be haughty with people and put them off." She said it but remained there looking at her. "But please tell me what I am here for the information was very vague." She would and could get to the point as well. "Yes we recently when digging and working in the mountains came across a temple or chamber... not entirely sure. It was much older but carved like some of the older fortresses and still standing it just went deeper down into the mountains." THat gave a look of what was happening to JUnko if it was from one fo the old emprersses or emperor it could be invaluable.

 

[Junko Ike]

"This could be a major find, do we know anything else about it? Have you sent scouts or recorded information?" SHe said it and was going straight into a business mode.. exploration was important but they might not have all of the informatin or they might be searching through a place that is in the books just the location was lost. THey have done that before with some fo the ancient fortresses and it was interesting when they discovered it.. the names had changed, the location lost but the architects designs were the same. Junko was also looking at the area they were in the rural village was in the mountains but not heavily which likely made it less one fo the major fortresses and more one of the fortifications.

"We sent a few people in, they reported many of the rooms were empty as if it had been cleared out but more were sealed and we have been using smaller droids to scan and search through tryikng to map it. There are a few entrances we have found that lead into the mountains. One into an old sewer systems that looks like it had been made for a city but we haven't found ruins of such." Hmm an ancient sewer could be invaluable or at least if it was part of one.. might come out someplace completely different and if they were interested it might be a major discovery. She was already accessing her interface to connect with their droid network and get what information she could.

 

[Junko Ike]

She was starting to see more information coming in and formulating a plan of action.. she wouldn't be able to do a massive expedition there wasn't time to wait and get all of the supplies... well there actually was. She had more then enough but this could also be nothing major or it could be something massive and beneficial to understanding and advancement of the restoration of Atrisia. "I will put in the paperwork and get it started... we'll have a proper expedition team brought in." Junko said it and the AI built into the headpiece was already working on filling out the paperwork that they would bneed to file for the team and equipment.

"Just like that, but you havent' seen the site princess." The woman said and JUnko smiled looking at her. "I trust you, you asked me here cause it was important enough so I can do this and besides... exploring Atrisia is my job now so a chance for us to really look into our worlds history.. there is a whole lot that many do not know and we still haven't even begun to touch on." JUnko went on to explain what they had learned and they were trying to give out all of the information to the people but there was a lot... millions of years worth of history and information that went so far back few others would be able to believe it.

 

[Junko Ike]

"There is history down there and it might shed some light on gaps but it might also help with ways to give it all.. we thought about printing a massive tome but for many it could be overwhelming to learn what we have come to learn... so small dozes and trying to get them to understand just how rich their worlds history is and how ancient our society is." The information though wasn't hidden it was there in the schools for all of the students to learn in the academies as well as the ones who immigrated to the world from worlds that had been attacked and destroyed like Csilla or zeltros... even Ryloth which served to give them some of the better engineers.

Junko spent several days while they awaited and prepared for it.. her handmaidens were there but the ones more akin to combat and exploration... her own personal guards and some soldiers for protection just in case. Their armor gleaming with a beautiful Jade color and banners that were on their back to announce them as part of her entourage and court... the emperor and empress had given to the sansin each their own and the banners were the most important part to distinguish them when several were around so in case of attack you could know who was under the command of who... small visual clues.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko had even requested from the Sansin of the region some troops who were there and standing prepared for anything that could be happening... as a means to remain in the loop and transparent about what was happening... she had them here to send reports to her as well as information that they gathered. THey might not know everything but they knew plenty about what they might be finding as she could see with them a Chi-Oni... one of the dwellers below... from the hollowed earth of Atrisia where the ancient Atrisians had not only survived they had managed to thrive. JUnko was coordinating them to go with some of the scientists who were heading down as the advanced team with one of her group of scout.

"Understood princess." THe lead spoke and stood there in his armor... that Kana-Chan was the Sansin didn't factor into many decisions... but it did function in that she had chosen for her soldiers pink armor... not just pink but a cotton candy hot pink armor that no one could make look legit but he along with the others didn't make any faces or let it distract them that they were getting looks of curiosity... so if they were not going to bring it up then she wasn't but even being one fo the youngest Kana-Chan made this gesture seem cruel. The empress would have to have words afer she got a few laughs here and there about it.

 

[Junko Ike]

Still the cotton candy pink armored soldiers were professional and they allowed themselves to be ordered around and sent out as was instructed to defend the science teams.. the village providing some people as well who were being protected by a combined force. Junko was looking at all of them and it was time to head out as she stood there trying to think of something clever to say for themselves about going to explore. "Ahhh I know I should have some wise words of wisdom about what we are doing but this has become old hat for many of Atrisia now... we uncover something from the past... we explore it, we document it."

JUnko said it but that wasn't really a bad thing for them.. it was meant to be as something they were familiar with.. something that they did and were skilled in. "You have the best education and training you have done this before and know what to do... you know how to be safe, you know how to protect yourself if there is dangers and you have the supplies and the technology to aid you." She got some nods and looks of understanding. "So this isn't about how the undertaking is great and the task insurmountable this is about how we know what we are doing and that we should be flawless in our execution."

 

[Junko Ike]

She got some more snickers and cheers to that... a situation that was maybe to some boring and old hat but to them could mean a great deal in terms of their cultural history and world... even if it turned out to be nothing of important... just another temple that had been built to a god then it was still built for that god... for that time period. JUnko kicked off the expedition though as the scouts went on ahead and they did final preparations.. they had about an hour head start and scouting droids were being set up to relay information as well as formulate and map the area.. sonic sensors for paths and the deeper they go into the mountains the deeper they could get information.

"This is well and good princess but shouldn't you remain back here with us?" Miyoung spoke as she stood there with the guards and Junko turned to look at her while they were walking.. her heads up display giving her information about the pathway so she could walk backwards and not run into anything or anyone. "Miyoung, if we are going to be exploring then we can't do it from the back.. we need to do it from the front or in this case largely in the middle... plus last time we went ahead like this didn't we find a whole hidden city at the center of the planet?" She said it and Miyoung spoke. "More on the side in a giant geode."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko looked at her and Miyoung was one fo the few she knew whose sense of humor was in some ways worse then her own... she was literal in her humor but she was also trying and JUnko snickered to that. "Alright then to the side... well we can still explore and have a lot of fun with what we have been doing." Miyoung had spent a lot of time in the palace.. she was a handmaiden but most of JUnko's handmaidens were princesses formerly of Atrisian nobles and lords who had fallen in and eventually kept coming to enjoy her company being around... her otherworldly charms attracting all of them like something awesome.

THey were going itno the mountain itself.. the pass becoming darker and colder from the lack of sun but lights were up and scout droids. The chill in the air was nice and said that a good winter would be coming... the scents of water in the distance was for one of the exclusive streams that were up here and it fed into the underground channel that came out in one place a geothermal vent and hotsprings. Junko could see more here as the mountains were cleaner and showed signs that someone had been around here... once upon a time they had carved a path further in and there werrre chambers off the main mountain pass that were full of debris.

 

[Junko Ike]

She could see more of it and she could see where the water had been carved in the path.. it was rather beautiful as the water was channeled into almost a resevoir that had been made but it wasn't used for anything else then holding the area. There was a limestone filter that the water went through and she could see where the impurities were on the top and crusted over. The engineering that had been used here was top notch and made to last from what she was seeing ans the stone that had been brought in bleached from the sun that shone down on it from time to time... it was even substantially taller to account for rain and snow run off in the winter.

The systems around it were minimal and she could see where the upkeep required would be minimal as well... this was a system that could feed into the village itself for centuries before there were problems so long as there was a supply of water coming towards them. There was more as the path leading towards their destination was secured with drones monitoring it as well as a small shed that had been set up with repair droids and drones.. they would be able to ensure everythign here was smooth and even be able to add some smaller filtering to it to doubly secure and insure the water was clean. Junko had to admit she was largely impressed by some of the basic engineering feats the ancient atrisians had done when choosing locations.

 

[Junko Ike]

More so as they were continuing on she was impressed by what they created.. it was designed for generations.. it was designed to require little to maintain it from bridges of stone craved from the mountains and coated with well the force to keep them intact for millions of years to the food creation and soil that they had worked on creating nitrogen pockets that could renew themselves and generally it would enrich the soil across the planet itself as opposed to using it up and creating dangers from overfarming. She had seen many of the areas of farmland that had been carved up; but also provided just the right amount needed to feed regions with different plants.

Her thoughts were able to drift while going as well with everything here the scouts were doing their job and the mountain pass went into a small canyon that was filled with alcoves... each one housing statues of what looked like yovshin and rulers... the canyon wasn't on the maps but it was overgrown with vines and came out into a half moon shaped area... the temple and she would call it that was carved itno the stone under an overhang and sleek. The white interlocking stones giving it a smooth appearance, the pale pink of the stone reflecting colors around in a cascade painting the pools of water at the side of the entrance in pink.

 

[Junko Ike]

"This is something." Miyoung said it while she was walking and looking at the waters as they churned... nothing still and they swirled around underneath. "It looks like there is a small channel underneath that allows the water to circulate and prevents algae from growing... smart but there is more. The stone has limestone as well which is filtering it and cleaning it. I imagine the water inside of the temple was drinkable for the people which would have made this ideal for surviving long periods of time if they had something for food.": Miyoung believed herself in the situation and they were able to see a lot more as outside of the temple it was statues of yovshin with different emblems.

"Hmm those look like cranes." Junko was examining them and getting a better image as the designs were fading just enough to be hard to see but she brought up some water to coat it and draw it out. The design changing a little. "No swans from the looks of it... Tsura swans." She said it and raised an eyebrow... not recalling much information about some of the emperesses or emperors who had used Tsura as a design... she knew a few hunted them down and made it a sport which was wrong but one who had used them as their own emblem... this could be a great find for them. "This could be bigger then we thought if there was an emperor or empress who had Tsura in their court."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was thinking about it and there were some implications.. it was known that the Tsura were mostly well peaceful... the few who had survived to the current age and lived among the Atrisians. Junko was checking out more of the things here... where she was looking at the stone work of the temple where they were checking on more of it.. the scouts were giving some information about the interior and the drones were flying around. THe newest model makie class were better at giving them information about the areas and providing lights as Junko got one of the survival kits on her back and her thigh pack. She looked at Miyoung who had the same as they secured their belts.

"THese improved models you have gotten for us princess arer impressive.. the belts are a nice though as well being able to be used with them it is like having nearly everything together." She said it with a smile on her face though as they were going into the temple itself. The massive doors though were ornate wood and carved with gilded metal at the hinges and the wrought metal handles. Images in the metal with jewels inlaid that were classic Atrisian from before the Onyx emporess which made sense... she was in many ways their brightest mind but she was also well known for how dangerous she had been and her wickedness in equal regards.

 

[Junko Ike]

She would have to look at the histories in case there was something they had missed or something that they would be able to add to.. there might have been mention of this ruler far back but it could bbe obscure... many of them were mundane and you only knew the drastic ones who stood out by doing something good or bad... the others preferred to well keep the people fed and safe jut letting the planet go forward. Junko was looking at Miyoung as she pointed towards some fo the statues. "it is different but there is something beautiful about it here... whoever this ruler was be empress or emperor there is a chance they were not famous but still did good works."

The younmger adventurer and researcher seemed to be thinking the same thing as the small droid with her was working the scanners. "Carbon dating puts this three hundred years before the Onyx empress so far and the scout drones are reporting most of the temple is laargely sealed... no animals which is good and minimal debris coming in the air shafts that are unobstructed and feeding fresh air in. They are installing and clearing out the shafts to better facilitate airflow and reduce the heat from the geothermal vents used to power some fo the internal security and systems. There wasn't screens but technology had always been important and everything was made to last.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking for that the slates that could be used for security and the smaller drones were giving them feedback and information.. the security of the temple would have been important and being able to watch and strike if needed from a secured and obscure area... where they had somehow full coverage of the room but didn't just stand out.... Her mind was racing and she searched finding the wall. An optical illusion as it had slots one could observe from but quickly being able to slip out from behind and you had full coverage of the room with a bow or a sword. She motioned to one of the smaller drones and brought it up on the map as they would be able to scout and look within the small tunnels for temple guards.

"You have done this to often princess Ike, you know where a lot of the secrets already would be." Junko looked at Miyoung and nodded as she spoke. "Kind of, not going to lie there is a wanting for more excitement like when I first started to really explore but the experience I have gotten helps out a whole lot in being able to survive.. I am not making the same mistakes or getting into situations where I am going to endanger myself and my team now." She knew she had started out rough but now she was seasoned finely as an adventurer and knew what she was wanting to do... she wanted to keep exploring Atrisia and well she used it to become a heartthrob among the people.

 

[Junko Ike]

Miyoung was looking at her and nodded her understanding she had often in the north well gone exploring and endangered herself but also her bodyguards and servants who were mostly untrained to handle her level of expedition.... then throw in that they were going through the snow in weather that could be below zero with dangerous elements on the ice and you had a few deaths or needing to be rescued. THat was until she and Junko had met and well she joined JUnko the old fashioned way.. because Junko well had seduced her with her body to become a handmaiden to the royal princess in the imperial city.

Miyoung though smiled and laughed. "That only happened a few times, in truth it is much safer to have a team of handmaidens who know what they are doing then an expedition of guards who have no idea and are in constant danger." SHe shrugged though and didn't brush it off but she was also not going to get hung up on it... there was a chance that they would always be able to go on more expeditions and she was looking around the room as the chambers oipened up. A massive bath was visible and she could see the stone work as the water was still with algae and the droids were checking over it to make sure it wasn't in danger.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking at the design of the pool and there wasn't much to it... just an area but the water was going somewhere... it showed a steady water level even with runoff from the skylight going into it so they were exploring and she could see the scans from the droids showed an area below it at an angle. The idea she was guessing was less sophisticated and more simple as they found three stones on a sort of hinge that allowed them to swing up quickly and begin draining the bath... The water going down and she sent one of the droids to follow it as if it came out anywhere it could be either a sewer or possibly if used correctly an escape tunnel.

Junko was looking at more as the sonar mapping was being done, the room itself was beautiful... kazue stone walls and statues that are set up around it and clearly displayed. She could smell the old scents of flowers... perfumes that had been here for the water and would be used to make it as well as the bath smell enticing... the old chambers with them in it were empty but the scents lingered for the time at least. Then there was the space as alcoves were dedicated she was guessing to handmaidens or servants... everything that would need to be there was around and more so they would be on hand quickly assuming this empress needed them.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko moved into the middle of the bath though as it was drained and she stood there for a moment.. closing her eyes and letting herself focus... losing herself in the smells and the sounds as she tried to put herself in it and see what would be the most important thing... what stood out and would draw her attention to the most important thing in the room. "If I was the empress and I was in here... where would I put that which was most important to me?" JUnko said it while she was looking and the skylight was filtering the light through windows that were clean... the thin crystasteel membrane was made to be cleaned in the water and the stone.

"Maybe it is less this was an important room then who was in here with her." Miyoung said it and was moving into the bath for a moment standing there as she neared Junko. "Assuming this was just a room where she was getting a bath it would make sense.. she would only bring those she trusted yes." Miyoung stood there and encircled her arms around Junko as they twirled a little and she was looking around with her... trying to see if there was anything in the room that stood out... ":likely steamed waters." She could point out the small slats where it looked like rocks were set up that were off color and based on the design had braziers under them.

 

[Junko Ike]

":Hmm." Junko was looking at more of it as her visor showed her the designs... she was seeing more of it. "A form of heating that pulled from geothermal vents to heat the water would be a lot better then heating it up and lugging it... would save time so she could have servants on hand for whatever she needed." Junko moved a little more as she looked up and around... there were small grooves in the tiles where one could sit and enjoy themselves here... she could be submerged. "It looks like she used this to sit back or have others sit back... those statues being anything to go by she enjoyed her congress with others."

Junko was looking at more things around them... she was looking at some of the statues and didn't deny they mirrored a few of the ones she had made... a chance perhaps to just be awesome if she was like this sort of empress.. they would have to try and sicover more but then she noticed something. "That door there.. it is in a good place that someone could use it to slip in without much alert or in many cases they could slip out." Junko raised herself up and walked over to it checking the door to open it with the stone pushing back and sliding to the left... then she was in the tunnel and it was still smelling of petals and warm... welcoming.