Elven Navy Delta Squad: Thought Taker

[Old Fezziwig]

Akodo nods, pondering over Tiktiktik's explanation of his religion. Past and future are such relative terms. In a sense, they're constructed. Put together by the contextual now. The past of the next minute, of the future, if you will, will be drastically different from the past of my now. Of course, if I were, say, back at HQ or on my home planet, the possible pasts and futures would all be different. Then again, aren't my pasts and futures constructed by the culture which I grew up in? Mine would have to be different from Amanu's or Theryndil's or Grillon's. Wouldn't they?

The hengeyokai shakes his head, feeling as though he's somehow made a mockery of the thri-kreen's faith. He keeps his thoughts to himself and heads over to see what Thought Taker wants. Now is not the time to take up amateur philosophy.

 

[perivas]

Amanu will patiently listen to what the Thought Taker has to say, though his postures and demeanor radiate a coldness that the others have never seen on the monkey man.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Your brains tingle as the illithid's words insinuate themselves into your minds.

"As you know, we are seeking artifacts of an elder race. I call them the Elders, for they are indescribably ancient. Perhaps the thri-kreen knew them, millenia ago, when the People of the Celestial Mantis had a significant presence in space."

Staring at Tiktitik, who stands at the rail across the ship, the mind flayer continues, "Yes, the thri-kreen preceded your races - and mine - into the greater universe, perhaps by millions of years. The talk little of it now, even those who still dwell in the void. But they remember the glory. They remember it very well."

You feel the mental equivalent of a sigh, "But as for the Elders ... a mighty race, they were worshipped as gods by many worlds, many peoples now extinct. I have seen representations of them carved on many ruins and painted on the walls of many caves. Their form is unmistakeable, even when transformed through the eyes of misguided faith. And their symbol, the three-pointed star, finds its way into the symbology of many races."

"While your races and mine were barely taking our first steps away from our cosmic cradles, the Elders were already disappearing from this universe. Whether it was by choice or by misfortune, I know not. I do know, from anicent thri-kreen poetry I have translated, that they left behind at least one outpost. Deserted, without a doubt. But there I should be able to find what I need: proof of my theories, proof that the Elders did exist. I should find it there." A red-tinged finger stabs at a point on the chart. Your destination.

 

[perivas]

"Your destination.

"Correction. OUR destination." Amanu heavily emphasizes of the word OUR.

 

[Mirth]

"Let's make haste then," Chjargal says to the rest of the crew. Looking back towards the illithid, he mutters, "The faster this mission is over, the better."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

"Um, Thought Taker, how do we know that all the Elders are gone? What if they've just...well, withdrawn?" Akodo blinks and continues. "And if we do encounter one of the elders, what do we do?"

 

[GruTheWanderer]

"I find it highly unlikely that the Elders would return," the mind flayer communicates with the air of a wounded academic, "but should you encounter one, do nothing hostile. We are as insects to them."

The mind flayer turns and retreats to his cabin. You can see that his movements are still jerky and remember that he has not eaten in more than a week.

It is still more than a day to the destination, and the crew appears jittery. Although there is no visible difference between day and night in this darkened sphere, the crew and Delta Squad rest at appointed times (with the exception of those standing guard). Marcus and Grillon keep an eye on Theryndil, whose condition remains the same.

Marcus is on watch when the mind flayer approaches. The illithid is clearly troubled, and asks to speak with Delta Squad privately in the hold. He offers to wait while the fighter wakes his teammates.

 

[Keia]

Marcus will wake the others and wait until the team was gathered before proceeding to hear what Thought Taker had to say. Marcus will, as always, be equipped and ready to rock - even for the meeting.

 

[Mirth]

Chjargal nods to Marcus as he rubs he eyes, waking. As he gathers his gear, the bugbear thinks to himself, All of the Delta Squad together in the hold? I'd better make sure to secure the exit...

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Akodo cocks his head at Marcus and stretches himself. Switching out of his hare form and into his hybrid form, he heads up onto deck.

OOC: Since all his equipment shifts into hare form with him, Akodo is fully equipped.