[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3X6doyS.png[/img][/center] After their encounter with Uwné Exo went out exploring and looking for people and while doing so found a nomadic tribe who had set up camp near a layer gate in-order to raid it for food and water. Exo initiated communication and then briefly held the gate open when it was about to collapse, allowing the last of the tribe (Vardan and Jayce) to escape, along with a fleshy monster that had disguised itself as a young goat. After blowing the monster’s cover and agreeing that, as a threat to humans, it was best destroyed (resulting in the beast being dismantled by Exo’s reclaim beam), Exo informed the tribe that they wished to continue observing them. The tribe, having little choice in the matter, ended up having put up with the giant floating diamond following them around and asking them questions every now and then. Other than their titanic tagalong the trip to the closest open and safe appearing gate identified by scouting parties has gone smoothly, being mostly uneventful baring an incident with a drakhorey which was captured and dismantled by the god before it could cause the tribe any grief. Now the nomads have reached the gateway, and have initiated their method of testing the gate for safety while the god hangs above them making notes. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Cedys93.gif[/img][/center] As Exo hung above them a small contingent of nomads approached the gateway to another world. Like the one before this one looked mostly harmless, entering a forest filled with pink hues and an abundance of little ferns in place of grass. Despite this the nomads did not seem to trust it one bit. As the shapeshifting creature that had disguised itself as a goat had demonstrated however, nothing could be trusted to be what it seemed when it came to layers. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4X1xOQU.png[/img][/center] The procedure they were carrying out had started with shooting arrows inside and had slowly escalated from there. At the moment they were tying a rat to a 6 foot pole in-order to test if the world beyond did anything weird to living creatures. Apparently they’d leave it in there for a while too and, frankly, while humans were the third most interesting thing exo had encountered so far they were also incredibly slow. Not just that they were methodical, but in their true form the titan’s mind ran a lot faster than the mortals, so their reasonable caution was tedious to the extreme to the god. Still, slowing down and going at the human’s pace had given it time to fiddle around with its systems a great deal. It had been so focused on exploring the world that it hadn’t taken time to explore itself. Now however, it had ample time, and as a result it was ready to deploy the fruits of its labor. [color=LightSteelBlue]Sys[/color] Exo had given the system a name on a whim and was rather enjoying personifying what was basically just a scrolling log file [color=LightSteelBlue]Sys, ready deployment of LeggyProbe12 [/color] [quote] Initiating construction … … Ready Deploying [/quote] Down below the humans were startled when their generally passive follower suddenly dropped a large tent sized cube to the ground far behind them. The probe looked exactly like the ones that had been thrown through the atmosphere for a moment, then the bottom sides suddenly split and unfurled into dozens and dozens of stubby little legs. It rocked to and fro for a moment, then steadied itself and, with a millipede like gait, began to move towards the gate. The nomads stared up at it as it approached, slowed and stopped before them. Only after stomping its front feet a few times did they stop staring and hurry out of the way of it, allowing the cube to roll through the gate. The titanic machine crunched over the ferns of the forest till it was fully inside, various instrument packages taking basically in everything for a few moments. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Everything seems safe. I’ve run every test for habitability I can think of and they’ve all come up positive so far.”[/color] It helpful informed the Nomads based on the probe’s readings. “Er look. No offence but how does a big block of metal know it’s safe for us?” the one designated as Vardan shouted up at Exo, still holding his rat on the end of a stick. It was amazing what people could get used to if you exposed them to it for long enough and though exo was still giant, impsoign and intimidating the mere act that it had been following them around for days ment they found interacting with it almost normal. Almost. “I’ve seen a world where metal and wood is fine but anything made of flesh just turns into a pile of mushrooms.” [color=LightSteelBlue]”I’ve done analysis on the magic too and it seems docile enough. But I suppose a test similar to yours would be fruitful. In fact i could create a human for the purpose of the test so that none of you would need to take the risk”[/color] Exo explained “Make a human? As in have a child and order them in?” Jayce, a youth who was for all purposes Vardan’s apprentice in the matters of Layer exploration, asked. [color=LightSteelBlue]”In a way”[/color] Exo replied, and the faces made by the Nomads made it clear that that was an incredibly distasteful proposition [color=LightSteelBlue]”or perhaps not then. Well a human does have to go in eventually, so how do you decide who goes in first?”[/color] “The person who’s most sure, and most brave.” Vardan informed Exo proudly, having clearly put his life on the line several times “I thought we took turns? I mean we’ve never organized it, but generally I wait a few and then volunteer. Spread out the risk” another one, a woman, said. A discussion broke out as to which it was and as they clearly hadn't done this before their reasonings were all over the place. While they were at it Exo made up their mind. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Then I will go and prove to you that it is safe”[/color] they announced “Er, well, you aren't exactly made of flesh either. Also how will you fit?” Vardan asked. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Using a little trick i learned from one who went by Uwné I’ve been meaning to try out”[/color] it informed them. And then there was a glow and a twisting of the world and then the God was gone. Below where they had floated stood a human, wearing a hooded cloak sporting a large stylized eye hiding their own while the rest of their garb matched that of the nomads. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Fascinating. So this is what this feels like”[/color] Exo said to themselves, turning one hand over in front of them to examine their new flesh [color=LightSteelBlue]”What do you think? Oh.”[/color] the god asked, before releasing a slight flaw, and that was that the distance they had been floating away from the tribe was a lot bigger at this size. They were forced to jog over, only to be confronted by a host of arrows aimed their way when they got close. [color=LightSteelBlue]”What’s this for?”[/color] they asked calmly, slowing their approach but not halting it. “You. Are the Explorer, right? Not something else that just got rid of them?” Vardan asked [color=LightSteelBlue]”Of course, I’ve simply folded my true form away”[/color] Threw as a pulse and the nomads where briefly struck with the impression of the sheer mass of the Explorer being incredibly close, the bottom point overlaid with the human before them while the rest towered above, an impossible weight held aloft by this thing of meat and bone speaking with them. They wisely lowered their weapons. [color=LightSteelBlue]”I’m not entirely sure what you were intending to do if I was an entity capable of destroying me”[/color] Exo noted “Buy time if you wanted us dead too” [color=LightSteelBlue]”Interesting. Well then, let’s get this demonstration out the way shall we. This form will experience all the effects you would within so it should prove, though unlike you i won't expire as a result of them.”[/color] Exo explained “You sure you want to go in there unarmed?” Jayce asked, despite the god’s statement of invulnerability. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Trust me, I’m still more than capable of… actually perhaps I will. Make it a more authentic experience. Sys, use stored materials repciate the weapon, arrows and quiver held by the one know as Jayce”[/color] Exo instructed and, in but a moment, the requested items effectively built themselves in the god’s hands, starting from the strap and center of the bow and then ‘growing’ out from there till they were done only a pair of heartbeats later. Quiver was slung over the shoulder, an arrow acquired and notched in the bow and then the god advanced towards the Gate. Without hesitation crossed the threshold with none of the caution of the caution of Uwné and all the daring of Paratiri. For their bravery they were immediately pounced by a six legged panther with a pair of tentacles coming out its back that had been entirely invisible to the sensors of the cube probe standing right next to them before it struck. Exo’s bow snapped in an instant but the arrow they were holding was instinctively driven towards the beast, stabbing it in the chest and saving Exo from instant death at the beast’s jaws. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Sys. Reclaim tool. Sys!”[/color] Exo said and then yelled when nothing happened and it came to the sudden realization that they really were just flesh and bone now, not a titan of exotic metals pretending to be that. They were going to die. Then half a dozen arrows sprouted in the hide of the beast as the nomads reacted to the threat. The beast yowled and seemed to vanish from sight again. The arrows, however, remained and so when Jayce rushed in to aid Exo, despite the shouts of the others telling them not to go in, the youth could see the beast still as it limped away. With one more, carefuller, shot they ended the beast's life with an arrow to where they guessed the neck was. “Are you ok” Jayce asked, offering a hand to help Exo up [color=LightSteelBlue]”I almost died.”[/color] Exo said, with amazement rather than dread as they were pulled to their feet. “And this is why we are incredibly careful with this kind of thing” Vardan began to chastise them from outside the Layer on instinct before stopping and asking “Wait. You did?” having assumed the machine was still as powerful as it was when it was the titan. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Yes. Fascinating. Terrifying. This realm has entirely blocked my access to Sys”[/color] Exo said academically “Sys?” Jayce asked [color=LightSteelBlue]”Its’ ah. How to explain. Sys is the ‘person’ in my head that deals with the minutiae of performing complex and powerful scientific actions. Without them I can't create, destroy, or shield myself as I have been out there. I’m limited to just the abilities of this flesh body. That creature could have killed me as easily as it could have killed you. I am, in effect, mortal.”[/color] The nomads standing on the other side of the portal glanced at each other at this news. One even started to raise their bow only for Vardan to block her from ending Exo’s life with a hand. While it might have made all their lives simpler to simply destroy their stalker there and then, he and Jayce did owe it their lives. And for dealing with the giant flying lizard. And now it owed them. Jayce ignored all of this minutiae and asked “So you should get back right. Before you bleed to death and before any more of those creatures come” The explorer looked down at their damaged body, and then out at the landscape of the world that had nearly ended them. A truly dangerous world, not something it could just passively observe like the Continent it had been left behind. They wanted to understand it. Understand how it had almost killed them The sane thing to do would have been to do this passively using probes but that would be running. Fearing the unknown. That was not Exo’s nature. [color=LightSteelBlue]”I am going to return, repair myself and then we will explore this world”[/color] it informed them “Explore it? There's invisible monsters in there that almost killed you. It’s a complete write off. We’ll leave and find another” Vardan stated bluntly [color=LightSteelBlue]”Nonsense. It’s exactly because it almost killed me that I need to understand it.”[/color] Exo retorted Still, just because this was personal now that didn't mean they were going to go in unprepared. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Jayce, help me haul the body back through, I have work to do before we set off, starting with understanding this creature”[/color] it instructed the Youth In quick order the pair had hauled the corpse of the panther-like creature through the gate, upon which the god was greeted by Sys, for lack of a better word, dumping a log of actions that the god had not been able to access while in the Layer. [quote] … Warning: threat detected Hull at 76% returning fire Cannot comply to request. Reclaim tool unresponsive ... [/quote] The god scrolled down through a number of reports of that could mostly be described as instinctive actions and recording of the fact that they were slowly bleeding to death. It was good to know Sys was still there even if they couldn't hear her. Exo put a stop to the bleeding very quickly and then reached the bottom of the log. [quote] Detected: energy shift due to layer transition Testing All systems nominal Welcome back Explorer [/quote] [color=LightSteelBlue]Good to see you too Sys. and call me Exo form now on[/color] [quote] Recording new name Welcome back Exo [/quote] [color=LightSteelBlue]”Good. Now then.”[/color] the god flicked their hand and brought the probe back to block up the gateway to prevent another panther incident while they were working [color=LightSteelBlue]”Let's get prepared”[/color] [hider=summary] Exo watches the nomads form last time testing a layer gate to see if the world is safe Exo gets bored waiting for the slow mortals, makes a big probe box with lots of legs and sends it in to scout things out for them, and based on its results tells them it’s safe inside. Nomads not sure. It’s a metal box, how can it know the world is safe for fleshy people like us? To prove that it is, Exo takes on the form of a human and walks into the portal brazenly. They then get attacked by a displacer beast almost immediately, which is a terrible time to realize your now a mortal with no divine powers Exo barely survives thanks to the bow and arrow they built on a whim mostly for aesthetic reasons, and then gets bailed out by the nomads They thank the nomads, explain they are mortal without considering the possibility that these people they’ve been stalking could just kill them there and then if they wanted. Fortunately they do still owe Exo for saving two of their number earlier from a shapeshifter and also from stopping a drakhorey attack during their trip from the old layer gate to the new one Where others might consider just leaving the layers alone or surveying them via proxies, Exo refuses to fear the unknown and asserts that they will face the layer despite their mortality within it. Not before making preparations however, starting with retrieving the displacer beast corpse for scientific purposes and exiting the layer to make repairs and improvements. They leave, get their powers back, bock up the layer with the probe to prevent monster attacks and then set about preparing for a proper exploration of the layer. [/hider]