Dev Shadows of Atrisia

[Junko Ike]

Miyoung came near her and spoke looking up at the princess and it brought a little more. All of the guards who were going with them and a few porters for some of the less compactable equipment. THey were getting it all set up and Junko got her shoulder bag with her equipment. The kimono changed out for a better all temperature as it was a mixture of cold and damp but then geothermal vents would make it hot with unknown flora and fauna. Junko was bringing it all and she had contacts that would allow her to map visually as well as get near instant readouts as they worked. Relays and signal boosters to feed into the central computers and their mappers so all would be able to stay within contact even down here.

"Are we ready to begin?" She asked it looking at them and there were nods as everyone was excited and ready to head down. Following Miyoung who was taking them down deeper and deeper into the tunnels. The rock becoming plants and glistening with moisture that was around all of them. Checking out some parts of it where the rocks gave way into smaller pools and they had been reinforcing it to prevent collapse. Junko was walking and could see more as the cavern gave way and they were stepping into a massive chamber of painted murals from well she could see the blues and the golds... more interesting though was just how deep down they were and Junko turned to look at Miyoung. "What is this place?"

 

[Junko Ike]

Miyoung was there and looking around where she checked it out. She was moving around towards one of the platforms and pointed. "We didn't know at first but the images are painted with a different ink. It has not degraded and carbon dating puts it several million years old... and we are not entirely certain. It seems to be written in ancient atrisian and compared to now it almost impossible with how much the language has changed." She said it and she was looking where she checked out some of those but she pointed it out now for Junko as well as the images. Illuminated by lights but also vines that grew within some of the stone. "Once we managed to get the water out of here with pumps we well found them."

Junko looked more wher she could and if this was submerged then this might have been something from whoever might have made the pumps or some fo the more ancient structures on the planet. She was checking out some parts of it though and the images were beautiful but looked to be pointing and talking about something. "This looks like a cit far below the planet dedicated to the gods but then hey came to the surface for a time until bringing something they found deep down the tunnels were being sealed to keep them from being found." It was telling a story but there was not much she could translate... trying to discover it, trying to figure out the parts where they were. "Maybe whatever this is we can discover but keep your eyes ot for more chambers."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko got nods from them and spreading out a little they were able to look around and down in some of the chambers and paths. There wasn't a whole lot to see yet as the pumps were still workig on some of the rooms and droids reinforcing the chambers. Junko slid into one of the tunnels and could see an adjoining one as she looked towards Miyoung. "Where does this lead?" She asked it and the girl looked at her and up. "Unsure we haven't been able to get equipment through the gap or find any tunnels that connect to it yet." Junko looked at her and was taking that as a means of challenge before she was leaping up and holding the rocks as she tucked her legs up to her knees. She moved and climbed until she was close and then breathed in and out squeezing herself through.

"Princess what are you...." Her voice trailed off as Junko got through with her equipment and looked down. Activating a glow rod and checking out some of it as well as marking a small path. One of the small mapper drones the sentinels used were deployed to map and find the main chamber if it was possible but she had some ideas to try and cut through it. There were hydrocutters and a steady stream of water down here that could be used and reused if they needed it to widen the hole itself. Miyoung was following her being smaller then Junko she got through quickly and glared at her. "Just what do you think you are doing? Ican't protect you if you are just going to run off into danger princess."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko looked at Miyoung and raised an eyebrow but she was glad the atrisian had come along. Seeing some of her handmaidens down below she looked at them and spoke. "Phaidor tell some of the workers to bring a hydrocutter. We can use it to widen the hole here and get a team reinforcing." She looked back at Miyoung and smiled. "Better?" There was a look that passed between the two fo them and Junko gave her best peter pan impression when she was watching and heard the sounds of something. "Did you hear that?" She asked and was moving towards the tunnels around. Them unable to really hear any sounds of movement from the drones. her glowrod came up and illuminated some bunny mole things with pale skin.

"Oh they are adorable... little bunny mole things." There was a sound of rustling and then she saw her new pet... the pony sized beast was looking at her with its tongue hanging out of its mouth and it was licking her hand. "You found me." She looked a the thing and couldn't imagine it was very smart but damn if it wasn't loyal and able to seemingly find her well anywhere she went... must have amazing tracking abilities or she was guessing something like a blood trail with the force that would let it find anyone anywhere. She didn't really know how to experiment with such a thing and having the creature around the planet would be something to see. "Well come on, lets see what we can find."

 

[Junko Ike]

She was moving and now the holomappers were updating to feed her more information. Where she would be able to look at Miyoung and her companion... the beast was motioning andleading the way as it scented the air. She didn't know why but it seemed the better course was to follow as it stopped and growled when she started to go down a different tunnel. Latching its massive mouth around her wrist and not biting but insisting that she follow it instead of going that way. "Alright alright." She looked at him and they were moving as the tunnel got more narrow but it opened up into another chamber. "Well this is not what I expected." She could see it around them, massive walkways that wrapped around and levels to it. The glowing plants casting it all in a blue glow.

"What have you found princess?" Miyoung was standing next to her and she moved removing a glove from her hand and touching the plants. "They are so warm." Junko looked at her and she crouched trying to check out some parts of it with a nod of her head. "It is strange the deeper we get into the planet it seems the more we find that something was far far down here... I am excited at some of these mysteries. Like the temple we found with some sort of meditation chamber or prison... it could have honestly went either way if you were not careful." WIth a look though at the pet she had he seemed excited and was eating some of the plants while moving around as the padless feetlet them stay quiet.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko continued to move along and following the arches hat made sort of a path she could hear sounds far below. The crashing of waves and crouched holding herself in position. She looked over and down into the darkness then she could feel the water whle she was looking towards it. "There is an ocean or at least a river but this far down it brings me some questions." They had bene going deeper and deeper as more came to join them and the mapper showed the area around them pointing out where it went into more tunnels and it was going down deeper as they walked down an archway that opened to a larger section of ice and water that looked illuminated and she could see more fishes and what looked like eels swimming around.

"There is a lot more here they I thought we might find but I am liking it." Miyoung was there standing next to her and the two fo them were checking things out around them. Where they could go and their small team had managed to get through and down to them following the mapping tech and the trackers while droids were working on the tunnels and spreading out to check the area. The water splashed up and mist was clinging to Junkos face where she was checking out. Junko continued and Phaidor with the others had come to see her while Tripitaka stood near the jedi master and had her sword ready just in case. "There was something in the tunnels around us but we havent' been able to find anything."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko perked up when she heard that there was something there around them and she slipped her hand down. The katana in her kimono was revealed and she touche dit with a look on her face. She slid a hand to the hilt of the blade and they were all walking. Her lightsaber was on her hip but she didn't need to use it until the jedi master was going along the path and it opened onto a circular stone platform where she could see rocks jutting up from the base as waves crashed up along the sides and smashed heavily against the rocks to make sounds like thunder and Junko moved around a little as there was something else under the sounds of thunder. Her pet growled quietly while the scales seemed to shimmer and she nodded.

"I sense it as well girl." She motioned for the other as Miyoung and Tripitaka came to stand next to her with Min closing the rear of the circle as they were around the others who had weapons drawn. The pale forms reminded her of the Taeki but they were different wearing furs that seemed toblend into the rocks as eyes glowed that looked at them. The different furs covering their bodies and she coudl see the flash of pale skin underneath as well as weapons lke spears and blades but nothing like blasters. Then theywere gone as a scream came out and the different ones scattered around them into different directions around the rocks down towards the waters or into smaller caves they were able to reach.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was tracking soem of them and she moved motioning the others so they could follow quickly and her atrisian tiger moved after tem. Making a face but quiet as it snarled a little. Leaping and going along the rocks with its sharp claws scratching into the stone. Junko was looking at it all and she moved quickly her katana at the ready when she and Miyoung entered the cave with Min seeing several fo the hings... or people fi they could be called that. Slender and pale skinned with dark hair that was nappy and everywhere. THe furs they were wearing were from something furry... it was massive as well as it wrapped around most of their bodies and they had headdresses of bone and horn with spears and makeshift blades.

Junko stood there as they held their blades forward looking at her. She squinted a little but was moving in interest about what they had here when she turned around and some of the small bunny mole like creatures were watching them and eating plants. "Do you understand me?" She asked it in atrisian and the oldest way she could think about. The words were like gravel on her tongue before she was looking over and checking out some parts of it... the others came forward speaking in an even older tongue. She couldn't make out allof it but she was tringto figure it out and picked up one or two words. Mostly as one stood in front of her and they looked similar enough, same black hair and pale skin but she was wearing skins and furs.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko stood there and moved forward as she looked upon them though placing her katana on her hip. The guards were trying to come but Junko waved them off with a look on her face before she was moving around. The others with the furs were quiet but crouched down and looking at her. Poking and prodding with the ends of their spears to try and see what was happening or going to happen with Junko. The one who was facing her stood there in her furs and grinned showing broken and rotten teeth in her mouth. The scent of meat and the mushrooms that they had were something for them to see. "Hello." Junko spoke in ancient atrisian with a look over what she might be able to do now until she was moving.

"Way." her voice was soft but she was pointing and leading them towards another area of the cave as Junko followed carefully but could see torch light that would lead them around. She crouched lower as they wer going through some of the cave tunnels and eventually was like the others crawling along on her hands and kees into an open area with an overhang... it was massive and bright. The tunnel twisting and turning around not letting her see or make out what there was as she looked down at massive spires of rock that went from the ceiling to the bottom that was shrouded in mists and her holomapper with the droids were taking them down far far deeper. They had almost found a chute that brought them several kilometers down.

 

[Junko Ike]

She could hear other things here... the light above wasn't real it was like a sun but not entirel... there was no warmth, no feeling of it along her skin but she could see everything around them with the sift light. There the rocky spires were she could see things on them... buildings that had been carved into the stone and platforms... bridges between them that went further and further across. Then dow and down. "Are you seeing this?" She said it and climbed to the platform helping the others and eventually their porters followed climbing down and setting up anti grav lifts that could be used and the holomappers pinged the massive caverns area. It seemed to be going on forever until she pushed back to check with some of them.

"Miyoung have you any idea where we are?" They were checking over it and there was a look on the womans face while she stared in wonder speaking before whistling. "Not sure, we hae to be at least twenty kilometers down by now if the equipment is correct and what we have been following. Those chutes are quite strong for getting down and the mines look like they are connecting to it." She said it and was looking at the holomapper that was showing more and more tunnels honeycombing above them before she pointed it out. "The drones move fast and the sonic pinging as they flew to get down here. Progress wih the construction droids would be slower to secure an area but they had all of this new information and tunnel to work with.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking around here, going to the edges of the pathway they were on and the one who led them here stood in the distance motioning for them to follow. The cavern smelled old.. the air fresh and recycled, cool but not cold as she went in. Seeing them where they were all going Junko followed slowly with the others and it was like an entire city had been built here... no there was much much more then that where she could see and there were murals... there were the sounds of ships. Air ships like they had on the surface but these ones moved around with living beings. Barges of people, containers of cargo and materials or creatures. Junko was looking more at what was written and trying to place it as her eyes focused over the letter seeking common ones in the older languages.

"Are you finding anything?" She looked over at Phaidor who had come to stand next to her and she was looking at her. "Yes... kind of from what I can see there were ancient beings from the sky, they came here and enslaved them. So they rebelled, this was years before anything we know from some of the great families who can trace themselves back and it looks like there was a crash as their ship in the skies above impacted the planet." She pointed it out. "That may be how Ezogashima was made and here they used the technology topreserve it and what they learned from their masters to dig deep into the world to find a place where no one could find them but some left and rejoined those on the surface."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was uncertain about it.. she couldn't see it all, she couldn't read it all but she was looking at the colors and the details. Where she was really trying to see some of the parts they had set up and it was much much more viable a theory. Some of the oldest religions in the history books well came from below.. the people worshiped gods in the skies but had remained under the ground to avoid their divine powers.She was trying to well she was able to perfectly with her families bloodline and force connection but the history and stories were a thousand fold with every continent, ever ancient religion even after they had been modified and absorbed into the pantheon having them. The ancient texts were preserved and copied to a database.

"So we came from here?" Miyoung said it and was looking at them as Junko turned to see her. "Maybe but that was a long time ago... if this is right we were on the surface... then went underground then back back after whoever were trying to oppress us left or were forced away." She said it trying to look upon some parts of the mural while they were walking and she could see a few of the others. They weren't wearing furs here but ornate dresses, jewelry and their hair was up in styles she was not certain about here. THeir hair was massive though and easily would have been like a curtain on the floor where she walked among them. Seeing jewelry of jade, piercings and ink on their bodies in different designs.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko could see more of them,intricate outfits of precious metal and crystals. The one who was walking around had wings of gold and kyber crystal... it wasn't practical and looked like it was much much more for the spectacle that she was getting from the others around her. She saw someone with thicker hair in braids that was conservative compared to most everyone else but her outfit was no less ornate. An open kimoo over blackened leathers with weapons on her hip. The sleek blade was like a middle lane between a katana and a tanto stle but she couldn't seem to recall a name or what it might have been use wise. "Thank you for not attacking us." She said it and the one was looking at her for a moment but then held out her hand.

Junko could feel the force flowing from the woman and brought a hand out to touch Junkos head. She looked at her and there was no hostile intention as Min moved forward but Junko held a hand out. "No it is alright." She waited and then she could feel it... that whispering of power that continued to go forward with her and whispered of the force and it was like a loop. She was giving knowledge of atrisian and was in turn getting knowledge of their language... she could share it and understood as Junkos eyes went black, the pupils dilating and she was processing the information at a much faster rate as well as anything else that might be there from her... from Kirano was her name and she was the closest to a greeter they had.

 

[Junko Ike]

"Well that was something that happened." Junko said it while standing there and Kirano spoke watching her with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, that ou have come down this far shows you are really brave or really desperate.... So which is it?" She remained there and stood straight backed and tall as Junko smiled. "Neither... well some but mostly neither. We were curious how far the tunnels could go down and the deeper we went the more questions we had about it. There was a mural chamber that had been submerged." She said it and was looking around but... "Though this is not what any of us could have suspected to find if we kept coming down into thee mines." A smile on her face while she went to he side of one of the rails and looked down.

"So how far does it go down? Where is the light produced from?" She was asking the questions quickly but Kirano came to stand next to her and raised an eyebrow. "The sunlight as it were is collected through panels high above in the mountains and channeled down here. It keeps us from going blind to adapt to the conditions and this far down we have explored. There are some ofthe ancient creatures that were on Atrisia and we managed to preserve them here as well as raise them but there is just as much danger here as on the surface. Maybe more so as geothermal pockets can spew magma insteadof just heat or things grow larger down here." Kirano was looking at her and she had a grin on her face while moving and motioning for the jedi to follow.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko continued to move forward with Kirano.. they were heading into one of the rocky spires that was appearing for hold up the cavern but she couldn't be certain about that. Where she was looking the buildings themselves seemed ancient Atrisian in design setting parts up with rice paper windows and the breeze brought the scent of old things.. of time and mint and jasmine. There was even the scent of rain in the distance while she looked down to see the mists below them. Birds were flying and she could make out the smallest creatures moving from up here but they were larger she knew. "It is beautiful." The few who came with her as they were setting up a small camp and relay with communications and holomappers.

"It is quite a sight to behold." There was a look on her face while they walked through the halls of the structure. Going from room to room and Junko could see much much more here. The intricately dressed were destitute of clothing and getting their hair fixed in more ways that she could even think about. She knew from history that Atrisian nobles had gone through phases where they focused on some sort of clothing... like shoes or staining their teeth to emphasize their facial features like cheeks or eyes. Where she was looking though showed ornate jewelry as well that raised her eyebrow. "Don't stare, it is rare." Kirano said it while they were walking around and entered one of the larger chambers filled with others from the court.

 

[Junko Ike]

She could see what might be considered the queen or empress or ruler... sitting there and she was... striking. Long black hair that smelled of exotic oils, black eyes that were like pools and pale skin that looked like pure snow. She barely seemed to go outside into the real sun as it were and Junko saw very little aside from a necklace of bones. Bleached white and clean where jewels had been adorned into the edges of them. "Welcome." her voice came out old and ground against the ears of the princess before a hand came up. Touching the arm of her chair and Junko looked at some of the others come to see her. They bowed down and Junko was watching a few of the others who stood behind her. "I have been told you are from the surface."

Junko was looking at her where they were checking now and a few others had come into the room as the jedi princes stepped a little closer with a nod. "Yes, I came from the surface with some of the others here... we were exploring and never dreamed we might be able to find this here." She held out her hands and her arms went wide to take in all of the hollow world they were in and checking it out. She could see more people coming in and looking at them, a few were dressed ornately, some were without much in terms of clothing but the hair continued to well be insanely detailed with almost like naboo style headresses of their hair when she finally listened. "Well that is what makes it interesting so what do you plan to do now?"

 

[Junko Ike]

That was a good question... she didn't know what the plan was but a world like this there was a chance there was other ways into it if they looked deep enough. A world like Atrisia was built above and below similarly as the half dyson sphere around them meant the orbit and skies of the world were jus as diverse and amazingl populated as the honeycomb of tunnels and underground world that they were discovering. Junko was trying to think of a way to well welcome them to be a part of Atrisia itself.. there was so much here that was important to their history and they were uncertain about what might be found. "I am not certain, I wish and hope that you will welcome your rothers and sisters on the surface."

That got some looks but she was checking them out when she thought about it. "Atrisia has gone through unification... we are united in our purpose and going out among the stars to other worlds. Meeting thousands of different species of alien and creatures across the galaxy itself." She turned to look at all fothe ones who were there. "You have been down here for so long but the surface has changed. The gods that drove you under ground are long dead and gone, replaced with knowledge and science. We have found some of the oldest species in the galaxy and begunt o understand them which is what most legends seem to have been. Just species that couldn't be understood just yet."

 

[Junko Ike]

She was looking at the ruler and remained there almost holding her breath. Unsure of what could happen as the woman rose up and she walked forward.. Junko realizing how little she wore and motioned for Junko to follow her. They walked outonto a balcony and Junko stood there looking at her... "Such a strange one, you speak to us as if we are not educated... as if we have no knowledge of he surface when we do... or at least we have a special place few others know how to face. The inhabitants of Sarnoi worship us... the old gods. those under the earth and in the dark places of the galaxy. They inform us of all that happens inways.. the oldest of them who remember the darkness that swept over this world."

Junko was listening and that was a surprise she had to admit that she had not seen coming. The monks in Sarnoi were well.. they didn't participate in the outside world but it was a place where one could get rich. The jewels and credits that flowed out of the city from trade was massive and it was sparse compared to others. It was said she knew that they dealt with older people offworld and spirits to manifest the riches but that wasn't true... perhaps for trading information they got from these underworld beings riches that had been mined around the planet. "I see well, that does make it interesting tohere. I knew Sarnoi was special bt I dind't know it led down here." The woman looked at her. "Several places do but we have cared little for the politics."

 

[Junko Ike]

"I see." Junko was looking at her and she stood there. "So is there anyway I could convince you toopen trade maybe, cultural exchange... the history of this place would be amazing to add to the history of Atrisia itself. Trying to brng all of our history back and any gaps from the ancient past that can be filled in by you or your people about what happened before the extinction event in the unknown regions." She knew it and they had managed to mark it as one fo the events that had shaped atrisia with debris and fallout appearing from them and being found by her family. They had chased down some of the debris and found rare metals and precious stones that had brought to them great wealth and continued to bring it to them.

The woman moved over and looked at her. "I don't see much with that... either way but if you and your group found your way down here and mapped it then it is possible and more then likely more will eventually find their way down here. Our paradise will slowly be breached over time as ou continue to mine the surface and we will have to work on it for the time." She shrugged though and walked going around where she could and led Junko through some of the court itself so she could see more of the people who were around and there were massive lifts going down to the surface of the world. "We'll accompany you to one of the mines leading to a place you might find useful.... some place you could use that we know has been untouched."

 

[Junko Ike]

This seemed to please the being as Junko stepped back and she watched. The empress... queen whaever she wanted to be called stopped looking at her with more of a sinister grin on her face though while she moved back. "Well if that is all.... there is only one way this sort of condition will be satisfied." She started to walk back into the hall and Junko came in. Tea and rice wine had been served as she could smell the floral scents all around of sweet treats. The empress herself stretched out her arms and spoke. "It has been decided, if we of Chitei are to have contact with the surface dwellers then their representative shall have to face my champion in mortal combat." She said it and held her arms out to show the hall as Junko looked at the cheers.

"Well princess that took a turn." Miyoung was there with some fo the others and looking at Junkoas she had been moved to the one side of the hall and guards brought in to make a small arena. Her eyes checking out things while the empress she had learned the designation withdraw a katana sword from its sheath and a second blade. Junko held a hand out to touch and took her lightsaber in her hand. If she had to fight she was going to prove herself the superior with a blade and try to end the fight without death. That had never been a condition and she was hoping that it wasn't something they tried to force as she didn't like the idea of killing with no real purpose. "I only have one condition... no killing."