The Tour Of Pythia - Episode 1: The land of the Dze

Col_Rice

Somewhere in the eastern side of Wintry Bight...

The U.S.S Comet DDG-149 is on it's duty of naval patrol operation, protecting the shore of Pythia from foreign and unknown incursion. However the Comet is apparently now stuck in a unexplored fjord in the Wintry Bight which then suddenly, a loud metallic screech from under the water resounded. On the bridge of the vessel, the crew were rowdy, a loud voice would be heard: "What the hell happened?!" cried the Captain John Pearce.

"Look like we hit some underwater rock formation..." The helmsman responded.

Sighing at the unexpected event, the Captain turned over to his Executive Officer, Joshua Shaw. Who is currently enjoying his tea. "Joshua?" The Captain asked.

"Understood, captain." The Executive officer answered. Without hesitation, the Executive Officer proceeded to the intercom system and barked the order "All hands, general quarter, general quarter. Engineering to ballast four, we got a hull breach."

As the Executive Officer bark his orders, the Captain turned his eyes back toward the window, then toward the sonar operator. Who clearly didn't saw the rocks. However, before the Captain could say something. The Master Chief Petty Officer was already approaching the poor ensign. "You god damn idiot, were you not paying attention?!" the Master Chief scolded at the ensign, who only listen to the Master Chief's harsh words, unable to response cause clearly, he is in the wrong. After all, it is a multi-million warship and he just caused it's hull to rupture cause he wasn't paying attention... After a couple minutes of constant scolding the Master Chief sighed, continuing "I ought get you removed from your post, Ensign. You could've killed everybody on this damn ship, including yourself!"

Stepping toward the Ensign's seat and the Master Chief, the Captain waved at the angry Chief, who nodded and stops his scolding. "I believe the ensign had enough, Master Chief. We still need him to get us out of this fjord." The Captain said.

The Master Chief nods at the Captain's words and stopped his scolding, returning to his post. The Captain turned around to look for his Executive Officer, who is no longer present in the bridge, possibly assisting the engineering team in repairing the breached ballast. The Captain took a deep breath before saying "Well. I guess fate put us here, Master Chief. Get me professor Jackson. Since these territories are unexplored and the repair might take a couple hours if not days. We should send a survey team. Prep a helicopter for them as well."

"Understood, Captain. I'll have all of them ready, I'll also prepare a security team for him as well." The Master Chief diligently answered before he walks out of the bridge. Proceeding down the stairs to the crew quarter, the Master Chief spent minutes walking until he arrive at the Professor's quarter. Which he promptly knocked upon the hatch. The Professor, clearly still asleep opened the hatch, "Yes, Chief? What do you need?" Jackson asked. Without delay, the Master Chief responded "Professor Jackson, the captain has ordered you to take a team and survey the local area, including faunas and mineral deposits. Please get yourself prepared and report to the hangar bay."

Clearly still confused, the Professor only nods to the Master Chief's words and closed the hatch, he rush to the sink and got his face washed before starts preparing for his unexpected trip.

After a couple minutes, the Professor finished his preparation. He brought along a seismic reading tool, a sample collector and a rudimentary translator as well dictionary. Leaving his quarter, he proceeded to the hangar bay, which has it's hatch wide open, He can also see the deck crews is still preparing the helicopter for takeoff. Nearby the helicopter on the landing pad is three sailors in their work uniforms, as Jackson approaches them, one of them spoke up: "Professor. It's a honour to be part of your security detail." the sailor exclaimed.

Nodding to his words, Jackson offered the sailor a handshake who promptly answered. Continuing the conversation, Jackson said "I'm Professor Daniel Jackson, I'm archeologist and linguistic, It's my pleasure to have you all protecting me, I feel safer already!" Jackson exclaimed.

Nodding at the Professor's words, the sailor followed "I'm Lieutenant Commander John Riley, that's Ensign Jessica Carter and Petty Officer Perry Parker. We're heading out in five minutes. The Pilot said the helicopter still need some more fuel, just in case."

"Understood, Lieutenant Commander." Jackson responded... Within moments, the Ground crews detached the fuel hose and the Pilot looked at the group, waving at them, yelling "Come on folks, the bird is ready. We don't have all day!"

As the words of the Pilot is heard, the group approaches the helicopter and board it, putting on their seatbelt and headset as the helicopter's rotors roar to life... And so, it's lifted off, as the ship slowly fade into the distance, Jackson spoke to the group "Gentlemen, and lady. The Captain has ordered me to survey and record mineral deposits, sign of life or ancient civilisation. So it won't be quick, I expect us to stay for at least one or two days. We'll move a lot, so I hope you sailors got the cardio for it."

Carter chuckles at the Professor's remark, stating "Professor, do not be afraid. If you can't walk, I'll give you a piggyback ride."

All Jackson could do is laugh at the Ensign's statement, the group would continue to converse for the duration of the flight...

And so, the Merian Navy would unknowingly enter Dze airspace and territories.

Flying_Tonk

As the helicopter approached land a chill wind from the fjords, dry and piercing, would cross it. Just a peek towards the lands would make it clear that something was...off, trees covered a good portion of the fjords but their leafs were turquoise and yellow, their bark was as smooth as a marble statue and far off in the entrance to the bay were there massive forests of trees as high as modern buildings; snow was still present in some areas, leftovers from the winter falls, but most of the ground was covered in strange mosses and lively flowering grasses.

The second the airship got close to the fjords however a strange feeling came across all of those onboard the helicopter, a rumbling in the ear, irregular, senseless and yet it remained as the helicopter's noise scared off bird-like creatures and small critters from the edges of the cliffs, scurrying towards hidden nests or lairs. The sensation got stronger, more powerful and it no longer seemed to be a single sound, but multiple "voices" rattling their eardrums; those of weaker heart would begin to see strange imaginary figures in the periphery of their sight and feel dizzy and nauseated, some would start feeling their head aching...they would be forced to land or risk crashing should the pilots be affected.

Col_Rice

Clearly affected by the dizziness and nausea caused by the environment... "We should find a clearing and land. I don't think I can fly in this condition!" Said the pilot.

Turning over to the Pilot, the Co-pilot answered "Understood lieutenant. Give a me a second." Before continuing. "Chief. You see anything?"

The Chief switch on his headset. Apparently he turned it off at some point during flight cause he thought it would be a peaceful ride. "Yes, I see a clearing right there on the left. Got enough ground for landing. I recommend we go there. Vosly. Get that gatling ready!"

"Understood Chief!" The door gunner answered.

Sitting in the back, the field team are also, experiencing the same effects, there was no conversation for them. However, the sailors has grasp their firearms. Preparing for landing.

...

Soon, the helicopter would descend onto the plot of land that the crew chief pointed out, as it's touch lightly touch the ground, the first thing the pilot did was switching off the rotors, the sound of the turbine slowly cease to spin as the door were swung open by the crew chief, the team jumped out quickly. The Door gunner firmly grisp the handle of the gatling gun, preparing to fire on anything that do dare cause them harm. The pilots remain seated and were checking on their electronics and systems. The gun on the right side of the helicopter is not manned, as the crew chief is standing by the door, watching the team disembark. Once they're disembarked of the helicopter, they walked a few metres away from the helicopter, the professor stood in the middle of the field, flanked by the sailors acting as his guard, perhaps he feel presence of living beings in the jungles around him. He waved at the sailors, who previously held their rifle in their hand to sling it, which they did. The crew chief, still standing by the door. Waiting for the team, the gunner, with his hands firm on the handle.

One could wonder what will happen to the team. They already passed their first trial, what else to come?

Flying_Tonk

As the helicopter shut down would the rumbling stop and a stranged vibration was felt; continuous and harmonic, it relaxed the spirit and calmed the mind. The top of the fjord was a forest clearing upon where soft and rough barked trees laid, the ground was slightly humid and the grass-like foliage was turquoise green, it had rained recently. In the dark of the forest strange shadows moved about, undetectable to the eye, swift and silent; those that tried to see would only percieve silent movements and the watchful eyes of something unknown. The shadow stalked the Merians quietly out of their sight for a few minutes until a flock of flying critters appeared and among the noise the shadow spoke to its kin and faded away from possible detection.

A horn blew in the distance and its sound was mighty and awe-inspiring, a delicate sound of a perfected instrument, followed in quick succession by the rumbling of the earth and the sound of hoofs coming from the forest inland. The sound seemed to be far distant, but magnified by the geography around them as it echoed in the fjords and yet it didn't seem like it was approaching them...they had a few minutes to decide what to do next.

Col_Rice

The Professor's gaze toward the forest turns from confusion to amazement. He turned over to the sailors, who are wary of the surrounding, then back toward the forest. He knew that they are not alone, and this simple exploration mission would very much turn into a rather prestigious mission: First contact. Knowing that fact, The Professor smiled as if he never smiled before... Then the horn blew and the sound of the hoofs. Knowing fully well that they have woke up the local, he put his hand onto his holster... Reacting to the noise, the wary sailors raised their weapons but the Professor had another idea, raising his voice at them: "Put down your weapons. Let's not antagonise the locals."

Hearing his order, the sailors agreed silently. It started with the Lieutenant Commander, Riley. He took off the rifle's sling and threw it to the ground. The others followed. Even the professor threw away the handgun in his holster. As the sounds get closer and closer, the group prepare themselves for what is to come...

The helicopter crews, although not far away. Were prepared for the case of violence, the door gunner hold ever more tightly to the trigger of the gatling. The Crew chief, standing inside the helicopter passenger deck has his rifle ready by the door frame, loaded and prepared. The uneasiness in the eyes of the pilots, afraid of the aura that the region emit, redo their takeoff routine, because if things do goes south, they could at least evacuate. Even if during flight, their mind gives in and they goes down in a fiery crash.

And so, as the new arrivals brace themselves for the local's wrath, after all. Who shows up to another person's doorstep with loud, obnoxious noises?

Flying_Tonk

In less than half an hour the sound of the hooves got stronger and from the trees sprang twenty one mounted figures, sporting laters of scaled and laminar armour, hardy boots and garments, masks upon iron-capped helmets with horse hair plumes and their saddles richly decorated as well, their stirrups each customly made with patterns made of strange, unknown alloys. The figures were unarmed at their hands, only having buckler shields in their left arms and seathed swords or bows on quivers, their hands firmly on the reins instead of their weapons to show peaceful intentions. Both warrior and mount were taller than a regular human, appearing two and a half meters tall, if not more.

Their mounts looked like horses, but clearly weren't, for instead of neck manes they had sails of colorful patterns and on their feet they had two dagger-like claws on the sides of their main hoof for defending themselves and their fur was thick. The troop of mounted warriors would face them in a line as their leading figure bore an indigo horse hair standard, impaling it in the ground as he spoke in Solaren to them.

Qiheetś: "¡Hail, lost foreigners! I am Qiheetś of the Nywii people, identify yourselves and either follow us or leave of your own concord in peace"

Standing at two metres tall and of a proud posture, the figure appeared to be either a captain or a full on chieftain and his words bore heavy in weight at whoever heard them, almost like hearing a superior or a mentor speaking for his voice was that of strength and authority.

Col_Rice

The Scientist bowed to the warriors of Dze. Meanwhile, the Merian sailors were standing idle, their rifles laying on the ground. Completely unarmed, their face were wary of the locals. That is until the Scientist spoke up.

"We're explorers from the land calls Meria. We're currently on expedition to this foreign land, seeking new life, new society and new faunas. I'm Professor Jackson, I would love to hear more about your people. Let us follow you." - The Professor said.

Although the Professor spoken in common, as he doesn't speak Solaren. He hope that his words were conveyed through body language.

Meanwhile.. In the distance, the door gunner. Still his finger in the trigger guard, ready to blast away the warriors at any sign of hostility. The pilots were observing the away party with their binoculars, awaiting for any signal of evacuation.

Flying_Tonk

The Dze would recieve the bow with gratitude and the laying down of weapons with glee. Qiheetś however would point with his finger to the door gunner, using hand signals to tell him "hands off gun". A simple message really, just so all foreigners and Dze were on the same page. Although he did not understand the words of the foreigners, he understood a few words he could identify as Solaren...maybe it was a start.

He made hand gestures for the foreigners, all of them, to follow him, for a spring rain was going to beset them and this fjord cliffside was of no use for cover. He would then look towards one of his men and produce a strange click and whistle, almost like a bird song, the rider would quickly nod and begin riding towards the woods on the fjord, seemingly going to get something.

Col_Rice

The gunner was surprised by the eyesight of the native. He released his grip from the gatling gun, seeing that the team was clearly not harmed.
"Those natives are odd, aren't they?" - The Crew Chief said.

Nodding to the crew chief's word, the door gunner said "Yeah, they got really good eyesight, I give you that. They can see that I got my hands on the gatling gun."

Meanwhile...

"He teelling us to follow him, sailors." - Professor Jackson said. The others nodded in agreement, they picked up their rifle, slung it onto their shoulder and followed.

Observing the team, the pilot made short radio transmission: "We'll be waiting here for you guys. Stay safe."

Riley turns back, giving the helicopter crew a thumbs up before follow the group into the forest.

Flying_Tonk

As they begun entering the sparsely dense woodland, the clouds would turn grey and a small drizzle would begin pouring. At the same time the leader of this band of Dze would then turn to Jackson and say:

Qiheetś: "Professor Īaxon, ¿sic? ¿Quid lingva loquor?" (Professor Jackson, ¿yes? ¿What language do you speak?)

The Dze had identified a few words from common as Solarian, or close enough, in origin and began testing waters for more effective communication methods, as hand signals were often a path for misinterpretation.

Col_Rice

Following the guide, Professor Jackson, hearing the broken question, answered diligently. "I speak the universal common language in the world."

With his profession as a linguist, he pick up words easily. Seeing that the language they're speaking some form of broken latin. Perhaps this special language comes from a country that has yet to interact with the Federation. Jackson is once again interested, after all. He knows all the languages of Pythia. But other continents? That's his dream.

Meanwhile, the sailors were following. They are chatting about how the forest are scary.

Flying_Tonk

Qiheetś would then speak to his own people in an unknown language, of strange sounds and complex patterns of speech, no word was alike the last one said and yet it felt like they had entire conversations in one phrase. The forest was not too dense, but the understory was still filled with shrubs and strange plants of green to turqouise pigmentation in their leaves, some trees had a traditional rough bark of ash to brownish grey coloration, but some had bark as smooth as polished marble. As they made their way inland from the fjord Qiheetś would begin picking up on what the sailors spoke as well as what Jackson had said and he would mumble to himself.

Qiheetś: "Lingva...vniversale, commv̄ne...hmmm"

For a while the Dze would remain silent, hearing the foreigners speak, until he would string a sentence together in perfect phonetic, although broken, common.

Qiheetś: "I solaren speak, I is Qiheetś of Dze. ¿Profess (teach) lingva commv̄ne to I?"

Col_Rice

"You're a fast learner, friend." - Professor Jackson remarked.

Following diligently behind, Riley was checking his PDW by pulling out the magazine before reinserting it, while the other two continued their conversation: "It is quite fascinating that we would run into primitive culture such as these. I'm sick of all the weirdos like Tepror." - Ensign Carter said.

"Indeed, plus. The air is clean and pure, Just like the ocean." - Petty Officer Parker remarked.

As the group follows the natives, Professor Jackson decided to pull out his notebook and write down the words he had heard from the native guide.

Flying_Tonk

As they went further inland they finally arrived at the camp, located in tall crag or cliff looking towards the sea, about fifty tents in a forest clearing were arranged, these were conical in shape (like a Tipi) and yet they were large, easily accomodating five to seven humans each, and the Dze locals looked at the men with a slight curiosity, but having heard of their arrival they were not bothered by such.

Qiheetś: "Mine home, mine people" -he then signaled to a group of 10 or so tents, seemingly empty, with his hand- "you live there for now, later you return home"

A clear offering of hospitality, these tents were in the outermost circle of the camp, each with the floor covered in felt, a brazier at the middle for warming the interior as well as futons with cushions and blankets and rugs made of animal skins and felt. In between tents campfires places with logs for seats were placed, firewood stored near the tents or in them.

Qiheetś: "Ask for food if hungry"

Said the chieftain as he then dismounted, bowed to them and left with his men for the tribe, their mounts going towards the Lequn pen near the camp, a wall of stones and a wooden gate. The seas looked tempestuous in the distance, but no immediate threat to the ship or heli, as they were both in the shelter of the much calmer currents that the shores provided. Both ship and helicopter were in sight from the camp's greater height, and large clouds beset the north whilst the magestic mountains in the fjord proved a worthy sight to accompany the forests and rugged shores where the Merians now were staying in.