I will write a blog about my adventures on Arkadia now and might as well do it here. Let me start my story on Calypso, the day I planned and took my flight to my new home. I said I left everything I own behind on Calypso, but that's not true. I had a few things with me, things I always carry around (even though some I don't use much). Here's the small list, the value is the TT-value. Basic Pattern Pants (Fugabarba)........7,00 Jolly Christmas Mittens.....................1,00 Gullaldr Shades...............................0,50 First Wave Colonist Beret.................1,00 Calypso Elf Shoes...........................1,00 VSE Mk 1......................................0,00 Chikara InvestaFoe ES300...............26,00 Araneatrox Doll...............................1,00 Teleportation Chip I.......................87,00 Teleportation Chip II.....................134,00 NeoPsion 10 Mindforce Implant.........21,99 Mind Essence..............................173,67 On my PED-Card I had 100,00 PEDs. Bringing the total value of my Avatar (if one can speak about such a thing) to 554,16 PED. I must admit that I left Planet Calypso in quite a hurry, I hadn't even downloaded Space or Arkadia yet. Thankfully my pilot and socmate Wes was kind enough to wait for me, even during half an hour break when I downloaded my new home after a violent crash. After I arrived on Arkadia I was greeted by another socmate, Mordrell. He gave me two MAKO FAL-1 (L) and one GYRO FAP-2 (L), all full TT that is 35,00 more PEDs. Today I started to see Arkadia with newly opened eyes. I was half asleep when I got here the night before. I talked to all of the Guides, most information I already knew and skipped. From a Sergeant I got a MAKO Trainer (L) which I took to hunt Puny Carabok with. I was at Relentless Firebase Academy at that time. After hunting down a few Caraboks I ventured into the wild. Just over a hill there was the next town, Relentless Firebase. I can tell already that I will get confused with all the Firebases on Arkadia. In this town I ascepted the IFN Challenge : Oro Stage 1 : 75. I was told by some archaeologist to visit the Archaelogical Society Headquarters. So I did and there I accepted the Missing Personel Mission. I took the Teleporter back to the first Firebase and from there I ran north, following the green pointer on the radar where one of the archaeologists is. I hunted down 10 Halix to complete another mission. Those Halixes are like oversized Rats from a typical MMORPG to me, not something I am looking for. A bit more to the north I came apon a clan of Zadul. They look cute, like Moliskes were before the regeneration upgrades. I even got killed by one Young, because I didn't want to heal myself after a previous attack. Before long I found the first missing person, a bit offroad from the one who's pointer I see on the radar. Then I got killed again, by a Madana Old. I haven't tried killing one yet, I scanned them and I think they are too big to hunt with this FAL-1 (L). Reviving brought me to a new town, Dauntless Firebase Acadamy. From there I continued my search for the missing person and entered a flock of Oroes. These mildly agressive creatures sure know how to take you down in a small group. I tried two more times, but then I remembered something, buying armour from the TT. One minute later and 40 PEDs poorer I had myself a set of Musca (L) and I must say that it looks great! Especially with a cool looking sword like the MAKO that is really much better then I often looked on Planet Calypso. (Thunderbird looks supreme too) My first days as a Calypsian with Settler and a Castorian Combat EnBlade is no match in looks for my equipment now. But I do think that 40 PEDs is a lot for somebody fresh of the Colonization Ship, but then it does offer some pretty decent protection. My new set of armour helped me survive through the flock of Oroes, killing a total of 22, and before I knew it I was on this big mountain. I say 'before I knew it', because I fell of at the otherside. Death and one revival later I was at yet another settlement, Reboubtable Firebase. From there I ventured into the open and quiet surroundings where I still am. Can't wait for what more is out there! I always have my Araneatrox Doll with me. I sleep better with him in the wild, knowing he will protect me. And on Arkadia he will even comfort me when I am homesick. :dark::dark:
Thank you all for your kind words of welcome! I woke up, having slept peacefully protected by my Araneatrox. I Cross a little stream and then I see the red dots at the end of my radar. As a precaution I take of my armour. As I come close I see that these are big Madanaas, I even see a Stalker from afar. I keep this pack to the rightside of me, that's east. Then I see another pointer to the NNW of me, the original I'm following is NE. As I go in that direction I see more big bad mobs, a large group of Owekoes. [ Thanks Molly for the advice I just now read! ] This Oweko look like a stronger relative to the Oro. I passed along with incident, traveling almost straight to the north. I find the spot of the new pointer, but there is nothing to see there. I get the impression that I see a black dot on the radar, but really this place is deserted. The original pointer is now always due east of me so I must be getting close to that one. After a moment I arrive at that spot and find that the missing person is .. .missing! She went a few paces to the northeast, but I quickly enough find here among rock and man-on-shoulder high bushes. She found some interesting stuff and didn't had time to call the Archaeological HQ yet, she informed me. A new pointer appears on my radar to the west … looks familiar. It's the same spot as before alright. Of-course! They wouldn't be lost people if they knew exactly where they are! I fall a few meters into a crest looking for him or her and have no option but to follow this one way or the other. It ends, but there the archaeologist is! He's ok[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]é[/FONT] too, just like his colleague. One other missing personnel is still further west and to the south as well. I come across another type of creature, a Bokol young. He looks like a small armoured herbivore and he's docile enough to let me come close and scan him. My scanner conforms my expectations, not that dangerous. I put on my armour again just to be on the safe side. A crassy Bokol Old kills me. I didn't put on much of a fight, he's chewing too much at my armour for my liking. I die and then … revive at the same spot! Old Bokol is still pissed at me and kills me again. This is repeated untill I die a total of eight times. Then the revival is doing what is suppose to do. And again and again and again. This way I find a small outpost, Moshane's Legacy. I follow the road to the west that ends very soon into nothingness (grassland to be more precise). I still smaller, but still probably very dangerous Owekoes. I pass them and then another herd of Bokols. Twilight is coming when I come at a nice small lake with a waterfall for a bit of night-swimming. Across the lake there is a pack of small Halixes that I pass through uneventful. Then I log off on a hill with a small stream flowing nearby and my Araneatrox at my side to keep me safe from harm. :dark::dark:
I woke up early in the morning from a call of the first archaeologist I found. He's telling me he's ok[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]é[/FONT] and will call his team next. That's nice, but I do wonder how he got my number. I head over to the stream to refresh myself and then I see a ship of some sorts hanging low in the sky. It is in the same direction as the pointer so I might as well take a look. Very soon I discover another Firebase, Formidable this time with the aircraft hanging over it. Funny how one can set up camp so close to an settlement if one does know no where he is. I take the northwest route out of the Firebase and I see a flock of Oroes so I decide to take on my armour once more. I didn't got attacked though because I was going over the hills and thus keeping the Oroes at bay. Later I am entering a mountainous area. I pass a small river with a waterfall, hopping from stone to stone. After a while I see from afar a group of Owekoes that I can get round about without trouble. I climb one of the biggest mountain I see, but then I fall off at the other side tumbling down 40 meters or more. Luckily I only break my left arm and getting bruises all over. Nothing serious and time heals all wounds. Hours of mountaineering later I enter the district of 8 Coins at Region D in the northeast corner. Although the area isn't as high as the mountains earlier it is heavy rocky and it takes me time to pass through. And then suddenly the landscape changes and I am in the desert region of Sentosa. I then exit the area of 8 Coins and I see the first desert inhabitants, Zaduls. This Clan leaves me be, they are really peaceful creatures and I let then scrape the sand searching for food. I do wonder though how the can survive both here and near the much greener area at the coast. Remarkable creatures indeed. While twilight is coming I finally locate the 3rd missing person. She's a nice girl and she tells me all kind of stories about the colonization of Planet Arkadia, talking till late at night. Starting with the Celeste Space Probe and The Signal it picks up. The cracking of the first part by Milton Lee and how Toán Harvir takes command over the operation. The ruins discovered by Sundari Zhen and the deployments of the Firebases on Sentosa. The first uncoordinated attacks from the Oratan till the horrors that leads to the death of Lee. :dark:
I woke up at the site of the archaeologist …. oops didn't even asked her name yesterday! She told me her name is Maracujá. It is the name of an old Earthen fruit, called Passion fruit in English. Her name is what they called it in the country of Paraguay. After the introductions she continues telling the story of Arkadia and the war with the Oratans. Maracujá tells me everything about the closing of the teleporters at Harvir's command. The brave stand of Lieutenant Commander Taka and how Sundari with Lieutenant Moshane is visiting site after site to warn the people of the war. How in the end they become trapped and have to flee for their life ending with the heroish act of Moshane. How, there near Sanctuary Cove Sundari is saved by Ky Fung and Moshane is lost. Maracujá also tells me two other stories, one of an unknown scout that saves a friend of hers at a Digsite taken by the Oratan. The other about an engineer with the nickname “Moonshine” that modifies weapons. I also must say at this point that my scars, bruises and broken leg are completely healed thanks to the “virus” DIR-830Z in my blood that has been bio-engineered by T.B.O. Bush-Vanderwaard in the 24th century, more then 500 years ago! The story of Milton Lee is reminding me about an millennium old book I read called “Hyperion” with his poet Martin Silenus by Dan Simmons. After saying goodbye I took the 60 second countdown to the nearest revival, thus entering the small outpost of Falcon Digsite. I don't know how far I got or even where I am, but I still am in the desert. I travel northward, because that's the direction of the last missing archaeologist. I am entering 8 Coins where I see a nasty looking Teladon. I don't dare to come close, my radar is giving me enough information that I know I shouldn't. That area is called Hunting Zone 2 and I go to the west, avoiding these Teladons. I go in another region of 8 Coins and I carefully go eastward to get Hunting Zone 3 on my integrated Map-System. Then I find the spring of a river and I start swimming to the north, to 8 Coins HQ. But before that the river is fed by one of the prettiest waterfalls I have ever seen. 8 Coins HQ isn't as big as I expected. There are some good looking apartments, but they aren't occupied yet. I go to the north once more and I made a bad headlong fall of a rock. More bruises and an injured ankle. I dive into the river again and I swim even though it is leading me to the west and not to the north where I want to go. It is better for my ankle that way, let the DIR-830Z do its work. I swim for hours, all my exercises with the blades on Planet Calypso has given me a Strength of 72 AP by the MindArk count. I couldn't have made it otherwise. The water is turning brackish and not surprising it ends in the ocean. I follow the coast northwards and running along the beach reminds me of Old Earth. The Netherlands where I used to live and also my home on Eudoria at Cape Corinth, the Dutch Enclave. But unfortunately it just isn't the same, there are stones all over the beach, the sand is darker and more compact which makes me loose that sand-gets-everywhere feeling that we Dutch people all hate and love. It's getting late already. I watch the sun set in the ocean (another thing different from the coast I know from home, this baby is violent!) and I sleep naked under the stars. The sand is going every where in the end and I am thinking about Old Earth, Calypso and Maracujá. The next morning I and my trusty Araneatrox wake up and I notice that my pointer is pointing to the NNE, while the coastline is going ENE. I don't go for a swim. For one I don't know how treasurous the currents are here. Second, I don't want to be attack by a large fish or something creepy. Last, I don't know how long I have to swim. I walk on the beach, everyone who has ever done that knows how hard that is. My Stamina of 10 AP by the MindArk count keeps me going. I come at a small bay and decide to test the waters anyway. When I climb out of the waters at the other end I am in Region G. Now I am following the pointer further land inwards. Things are uneventful here, I enter a new region, E. There I am going along a large, but low hill. It is however taking me many hours to do so and when I am at the other end I feel like it's time for another rest, another good night sleep on my new home planet of Arkadia. Early in the morning I exit the district of 8 Coins and then I can feel a cold wind blowing from the north. Before long I enter what looks like a frozen tundra, for a moment I am afraid of Chompers, but then I realize that they can't be here, silly me. Then another thought emerges, the daunting contrast between this frozen plane and the blazing desert just a few days walking and swimming to the south. That chills me to the bone more then the arcticly wind can. As I am walking I think too much about Maracujá and her stories, I don't look where I am going and I slip causing a minor injury at the head. It's getting late already when I realize I am close to the last missing person. I keep going, he or she might be in danger and I won't forgive myself if I leave this last archaeologist behind. One and a half hours later I find her, hidden inside a cave. Perfectly save just like her four colleagues. We eat and then we head off to sleep. :tired:
