And the Children Shall Lead

A Tale from the Time of Departure for 5 players

The Childrens' Tale

You couldn't wait to start exploring! Yes, it's part of the Charter of the Fleet, to map out your path to the Great Attractor, the planets, and the people along it. But all the grownups are too busy for you, getting ready for the Launch.

They told you to go away, and they didn't seem to care where you went, as long as you were back in time for the Launch. This frizzy world, with the odd name Crouse 4454β+02 seemed really interesting when you found it in Deep Dark's navigation database, only eight light years away. One side of the world is stuck, locked facing the small red sun. That side is all meltii. That means the other side always faces the Deep Dark. Not Deep Dark the ship, but the Deep Dark, the name for the depths of space. That side is all frigid coldii. There's a narrow band where the temperature is just right for some people, and that's where the ruins are. This is a very weird world — there can't be many like it in this Galaxy or any other.

Lapislazuli found historical records that suggested this world belonged to the Reahu Inevitable back when the Universe was young. They were wise and inscrutable, masters of esoteric tech and strange science. Like most early races, they vanished without leaving much behind. Equations of Insight insisted on going to see the world and its ruins, so the three of you set off.

"It's still weird having people inside me," Deep Dark said as she landed near an ominous looking group of still-recognizable towers. Deep Dark powered up her robotic avatar, and the three of you set off.

Exploration is hard work, and Lapislazuli was at a biological disadvantage. Lapislazuli refused to turn back, even when Lasko Radiation showed up on the scanners. It was coming from a hidden crypt, buried for longer than your sensors could test. It took forever to get through its walls.

Inside was an ancient laboratory, filled with priceless forgotten Reahu Inevitable artifacts. Equations of Insight started picking things up at random, despite warnings from Lapislazuli and Deep Dark. At one point, Equations of Insight picked up the Alien Gizmö, which started glowing and emitting mostly-harmless tachyons. The particles did clear up some unnoticed time distortions, at which point you all realized you were late.

You dropped everything and started back to Deep Dark. If you hurried and she pushed her engines as hard as she could, you might be able to catch up to the Fleet, which was Launching in 4... 3... 2... 1...