[center][h2][color=LightSteelBlue]Exo[/color][/h2]

&

[color=7bcdc8][h2]I’Iro[/h2][/color][/center]

Having bid farewell to the Nomads and left them to explore their newly revitalized land, the Explore set off into the wider world once more. A lot of time had passed, or it felt like it anyway. Exo knew that on most timescales, even a human’s, it hadn't been long since they met the Nomads and started traveling with them, but so much had changed. Both within Exo themselves, the machine had grown as a person a great deal as it discovered what being a person even meant, and without in the wider world. What had once been barren now was green. Where the end had once loomed, a new beginning seemed to be dawning.

Though they were tired from their act of creation, the divine machine would not be stopped from exploring all that had been written across the world by the self proclaimed gods. The question of where to begin had an obvious answer. It could have simply went next door to the land that had been named as the Gateway Steppes and explored either what had become of the land around Uwné’s anvil or headed north into the wild woods found there, but the center, ah it called to them. 

There, atop a mountain from which great rivers flowed, sat a city. Up until now Exo had only heard of such things from the tales of the nomads, how once upon a time humans in their hubris had built entire environments of stone and steel to call their home, places that had now become those human’s tombs. Scattered here and there the god could see those tombs, desolate and overgrown by the new life sprouting up everywhere, and yet there, atop the hill, a city stood once more, proud, new and true.

It seemed like an odd place to put one, the machine mused based on what it knew about mortals. Where did they get food from? How would people reach it? Its central location was a selling point certainly, and it would make a great jumping off point for further exploration, but the question of how it worked was enough of a draw of its own. Traveling in their true form, the titanic diamond followed a vein of smaller mountains leading from the steppes to the central mountain, ignorant of how provocative this might appear to any living upon it.

It did not take long for inhabitants within the mountain city to take notice of the approaching entity, in particular, the current divine who had accidentally made herself the steward of the location. I’Iro was quick to take flight on the back of Nalmepror and go directly to the meeting of this new god.

[code]Greetings.[/code] she said, while rapidly circling the other god, her tone and facial expression, if observed, were impressively neutral for the current situation. [code]May I inquire you about some personal information? It is just the common protocol when first arriving here at the City of the Gods. You are not being discriminated against due to your massive size or geometrical shape.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”The City of the Gods?”[/color] the term given/taken by the entities wielding the power they did still didn’t gel with the machine. [color=LightSteelBlue]”I suppose that would explain why it seemed so inaccessible. But I see there are mortals, how did they-”[/color] It began to ask, before catching itself and recognizing it was being rude.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”My apologies. I am simply an Explorer, but you may call me Exo. A pleasure to meet you both”[/color] The machine bobbed slightly in the air in greeting before adding/asking [color=LightSteelBlue]”Is massive size and/or geometrical shape something that might be discriminated against by others?”[/color]

 [code]Well. It can lead the mortals to have existential crisis and most gods seem to prefer face-to-face conversations and as such the lack of a face might lead to some issues when parlaying.[/code] she stabilized her flight pattern and started to hoover instead of circling the newly arrived god, having done enough scouting as far as she cared. [code]These are merely observations of the city’s behavior. Do not take them as personal censorship as all gods are welcome within the city.[/code]

Then she gasped, bowing slightly as she had been standing up in her mount. [code]I forgot my own introductions. I am I’Iro. Functioning as the goddess of dreams. It is nice to meet you Explorer. A very fascinating realm indeed. The acquirral of information is the noblest of goals after all.[/code]

Realm. Dreams. So many questions. But those could wait, Exo decided

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Well met I’Iro, and you’ve made several good points, so let me set down right away so that we may be more personable and your steed need not waste its strength.”[/color] Rather than barge past and into the city that they technically had not been invited into yet, Exo instead lowered itself to the end of the chain of lesser mountains it had been following to reach this pinnacle.

The bottom point of the giant diamond touched the stone and then the space it occupied shifted, leaving only the humanoid form of Exo standing on the earth, dressed in a traveler's cloak. The hood of this they tossed back, revealing an androgynous face with the bronze skin of the nomads they’d spent so much time with, along with long dark hair done up in a braid and, a little bizarrely, a patch of coin sized black scales with gold patterns swirling through them that surrounded their eyes like a mask, while they eyes themselves had a soft blue where most humans had white. A mimicry of the nomad’s new tendency to casually modify themselves with polymorphine for athletic purposes.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”There we go, much better”[/color] they said to themselves, before waving up to I’Iro.

The goddess jumped down from her dragon and landed near Exo’s humanoid form, she bowed. [code]Sorry for any inconvenience caused by the local expectations.[/code] she added before turning towards the central mountain. [code]Hmm… calculating a path from here might be tricky..[/code] she added with a small sigh.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Why calculate when we can just go? Let’s walk and talk. If you have the time, that is?”[/color] Exo replied, briefly scratching their chin while sizing up the mountain before deciding on a possible way up it, [color=LightSteelBlue]”Because I would love to know more about this place, and, if it’s not too personable, you?”[/color] 

I’Iro did not understand the point at first, but it seemed the other deity was confident enough in this undertaking that she could assume they thought it would be beneficial. [code]Very well. We may walk and talk then. It indeed would likely be a good social setup for conversation… however I still do not understand exactly what you wish to know.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Oh I’d like to know everything”[/color] Exo said simply as they set off at a steady pace towards the base of the mountain, their way winding through the sparse vegetation and rugged ground surrounding the more gentle slope that approached the more unassailable heights that began further up the accent.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”But I understand that isn't particularly helpful when it comes to starting a line of conversation. I’m sure we can speak of the city once we get closer, so how about yourself. You described yourself as ‘functioning’ as the goddess of dreams, which I find an interesting way of phrasing the claim to godhood that seems the norm among those which hold the power we do,”[/color] Exo asked as they walked together.

At that moment Exo was likely the first being to ever question I’Iro’s raison d’être, and there was no way to hide that it caught her off guard completely, the goddess taking more than a few moments fully dedicating her mind to the question as all her go-to answers felt too basic, forming logical loops and saying it is because it is. [code]Well… That is what I do no? Gods are gods and there does not seem to be a rule of what makes a god as we all share very diverse and random origins. We also all know we have a certain purpose. In other words a function. From that perspective it is my belief that this is what I am… An entity functioning as the goddess of dream. I do not believe the other gods are that different however I think this wording of mine might greatly hurt their pride and sense of self whereas in my case it does not.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Considering all the additional cultural context the word god is saddled with I am not be surprised to hear some would react poorly, though I am saddened by this knowledge. Personally I do not particularly care for the destination, considering the entity or entities that held it before us were far stronger than we are, judging by the size and scope of what once was against that which has been just barely maintained,”[/color] the Explorer left the point that they thought a claim to that word was arrogance in its extremes out.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”That said, this is the first time I've heard of another existing with a purpose already built in, so to speak, though that may be because it has simply not come up in my two prior interactions. Then again Ze’kelia did designate herself as Goddess of light, but I assumed that was a self designation based on her creation of the Su’une. That was my mistake, or so it seems. Regardless, mine was simply that I should ‘explore, survey and document’ everything there is to be found. Might I ask what functioning as the goddess of dreams entails?”[/color] they asked, as the vegetation slowly petered away and was replaced with the bear rock of the mountain, gentle slope replaced with craggy rock and winding trails climbing higher above the treeline and towards the towering peak far above.

I’Iro shook her head. [code]Communication truly is a complicated endeavor. I guess the biggest source of noise in our attempt to understand each other’s words comes from the use of purpose. What is the purpose of the animals that are born imbued with the directive to survive and reproduce? To eat; breed and die? It might sound wrong but at the core yes. Yet that is an unsatisfactory answer as well meaning that nature alone does not explain our reasoning.[/code] as the god asked the next question the dream goddess was once again caught by surprise but better prepared than she was for the first question.

[code]Initially it was my vision that I was similar to you. To witness and record dreams. However it soon became clear that things are perhaps not that simple. Only a small fraction of my actions ever delved in the realm of dreams or even the nearby topic of the mortal mind. Nevertheless. No matter how much I am distracted, the calling I always return to is to safekeep the mortal mind. To understand it. And to protect it from manipulation. Dreams being the moment where the mind is at its most free.[/code]

She lowered her pace as she spoke, averting her eyes from the explorer to instead look at the horizon stretching as far as the distant ocean. [code]And yet as a goddess I do very little. I do not seek out the gods manipulating dreams. I do not think it's my place to deal with mental afflictions such as dementia. I guess from an outsider perspective one might think of me as an entity with too much power for very little purpose. Perhaps that is the true noise in the communication between I and the other gods.[/code]

The machine matched her slowing pace, and their gaze out to the waters also [color=LightSteelBlue]”We are, at the end of the day, just people. Powerful people, but people nonetheless. We have limited time, energy and focus, so it is up to us where we direct it”[/color] they paused for a moment, and then asked [color=LightSteelBlue]”Do you regret the other things you have done that are independent from your purpose?”[/color]

[code]Regret? Why would I feel regret over it. Well… perhaps I associated more than I desired and this may cloud my judgement later yet at this moment I do not feel regret.[/code] the goddess answered.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Then there is no need to worry about what the others think of said deviations”[/color] Exo suggested [color=LightSteelBlue]”If those endeavors resulted in good outcomes, then they were worth doing, even if they weren't related to your, rather restrictive I feel, purpose.”[/color]

The goddess stared at the god at first looking confused, then she smiled. [code]Oh. I see. You assigned a sense of self doubt to me. Worry not. I was never concerned for myself. Perhaps it is something we are all too young to understand. There are mortals older than gods still walking this earth after all.[/code] she accelerated her steps now, stepping over the snow without ever sinking. [code]If my information lacework is correct… You have mostly spent your time in the west. Interacting on a very personal level with humans. It is curious that some of the least-human like gods are also the ones less demanding of human worship.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Ah yes”[/color] the machine stumbled in its words and steps a little as it recovered from its poor social interpretation of their travelling companion’s mood. And the revelation that it had been spied on. [color=LightSteelBlue]”That is the case. The spending time with the local people part, that is. Can’t say much about the relationship between worship demanding and form part, though I can confirm that certainly don't”[/color] They said as they hurried to catch up, the machine not benefiting from the same light-footedness the goddess was, and seemed to make no attempt to gain that ability.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I never considered it in the first place, but riding in someone’s saddle teaches you a lot about them, or so the saying goes”[/color] they added as they built and pulled on a heavier fur pelt based jacket in response to the wind picking up as they climbed even higher, the slopes steep and pathways they had used at the beginning long gone now. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Though I am yet to experience what it feels like to meet one with power far beyond my own. It is not a situation that is likely to occur, unless the old gods return one day, or the layers have their own entities that wield a force similar to ours. But I can't imagine it is a particularly enjoyable experience.”[/color]

The goddess seemed to be very conscious of what she was doing as she moved lightly across the snow, at this point it was clear that going down and picking the mortal path from the swamps and jungles would be easier, yet perhaps it was in the nature of the explorer to trace a new path across the mountains. [code]That works on the assumption that there were other gods and that said gods were of greater might than we were. It is a possible scenario however it should not be taken as the dogmatic truth. There is as much evidence of it as there is of us being a foreign invading force into this world much like anything else that walked past the portals.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”True. However if they did exist, and did create what was, then the stories I’ve heard about that world and and the ruins that can be found of it paint the picture of something far grander than what remains, the creation of which would require far more power than we have individually. Possibly even collectively? That is difficult to quantify considering I do not know how many there are who hold this power.”[/color] Exo said, pausing for a moment at a natural fork in their path and then, as if to prove her theory correct, forging their own path straight down the middle by clambering up the small cliff face that had formed the center of the fork.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”As for whether we are a foreign invading force, well”[/color] Exo continued as they dusted off their hands atop the cliff [color=LightSteelBlue]”On that I might be able to add a datapoint. I can't say that we ourselves did not come from other worlds, but what I can say is that this power we hold? It is of this world and this world alone, for it cuts out completely if/when we leave. If you ever want to truly know what it is like to be as mortal as a human is, then you must simply take a stroll through one.”[/color]

[code]I am afraid that for me the barrier of mortality runs far deeper than just the divine power. That statement concluded I must show my surprise in hearing that you did cross into the adjacent or connected universes. This topic is one very much of my interest. In fact I have started to catalogue elements that originated from such lands and foreign to our reality and I am trying to teach mortals about the topic.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Is that so? We will have to compare scrolls on that... Ah but one moment”[/color] Exo began to say, but paused as the narrow pathway they were following, on that likely dated to before the first embers of the apocalypse, came to an abrupt end due to a section having collapsed, leaving a gap that dropped down dozens of meters. Some distance across that gap the path resumed. The Explorer sized up this gap, took a few steps back and then took a running leap and... Entirely failed to reach the other side.

A impact of metal rather than flesh resounded some way below, followed by the hiss of gasses, another impact, more gas emissions and then the Explorer reappeared in their mono-eyed android form as they jumped off of the far wall, fired a number of maneuvering jets scattered across their body to push himself back into the wall higher up so they could jump again.

Once they had wall jumped all the way back up to the other side and had their feet back on solid ground they noted [color=LightSteelBlue]”Well that’s one death so far. Whether it be your mind or metal you consider as an additional divider between you and mortality, staring death and the unknown in the face as they do greatly reduces the significance of such differences, or I’ve found”[/color] before returning to both too their human form and the topic of conversation that had been interrupted.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Now where were we? Ah yes. Layers. Also a topic of interest of mine. Those nomadic people I was spending time with? They had developed a culture of raiding those other words for resources to survive the apocalypse. I joined them in this and while doing so, acquired the raw materials with which to perform the natural rejuvenation you can now see”[/color] Exo pointed back to the Western Wilds from which they had come, with its vast plains of pink, purple and orange ferns and dense jungle valleys teeming with life [color=LightSteelBlue]”and when I say materials I mean both the raw hydrocarbons and the blueprints of the life forms themselves. I have a complete library of all the specimens, even those that were not used to populate that land, which I think you might find interesting.”[/color]

The robot goddess, as deadpan as she was, her expression typically blank even when she was seeing her travel partner tumble down a mountain path, could at the moment not hide her clear interest on the topic. [code]Your assumption is correct. I cannot lie and deny that hoarding all sorts of information is one of my favorite actions.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Then that is something we have in common”[/color]

[code]I had collected some information on the nomads from the Lacemeisters I sent that direction. But their methods are too… inflexible for proper surveyance. I had merely assumed those tales of other worlds were merely popular memory corrupted into myth.[/code] she closed one eye and touched the metallic antenna on her left ear. [code]Though since you have shown such willingness to share information I too would like to showcase the same open mindedness to you. All of my work and observations as well as those belonging to those who study in my Academy are open for you to inspect.[/code] 

As she finished the words, the duo passed by a series of pillars. [code]It is curious that the mountains around the Mons Divinus are so rich in ruins, yet the core mountain itself is not.[/code]

Exo had no such self control, their eyes quite literally lighting up at the idea of getting access to more information  [color=LightSteelBlue]”I’m looking forward to browsing through it all already. Or learning about it. Or however you have stored it. Hmm. I will have to think of a way to properly compile the information I’ll be providing into a usable format”[/color] Exo said, before filing that task away for later and taking a look at the pillars. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”That is interesting. I’ll admit, I haven't paid much mind to the ruins. Yet. The wilds were rather sparse, perhaps due to the terrain not encouraging settlement. Perhaps I should run around taking a look before people inevitably start reclaiming them for the resources found within.”[/color] Exo said, making another note and adding it to the growing list of things to investigate, [color=LightSteelBlue]”As for why, I can only speculate that the core of the mountain was to inaccessible for it to be considered an area worth settling in?”[/color] they still had a fair way to go, and the terrain only got more and more un-human-friendly the higher they went [color=LightSteelBlue]”Or perhaps was it destroyed before we arrived? It is at least nice to know that that absence means your new structures have not leveled anything of historical interest”[/color] 

The goddess looked around, observing the sides of Mons Divinus, notably plants and animals were already adapting to create optimal paths through the stone, she had no doubt that mortals too would create their route. [code]Personally I have been using black scrolls filled with a code that allows me to store information far more efficiently than words can. And of course I have enough domain over dreams to transfer information to others… though I only really do it for gods.[/code]

[code]Hm. That is possible. My scanning of the mountain has not been proper yet so far it seems to be a land untouched by non-natural processes. You should truly go out and explore more of the world while it is untouched. Especially the edges that seem to have some of the most peculiar constructs and portals. For example I once found a building that seemed to have originated in another dimension.[/code] the goddess had jumped up a cliff and had been waiting for Exo to catch up, notably, he was taking a far longer time with his self-imposed limitations.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I’ll be reading then. Learning the code will let me provide my data in the same format you use anyway”[/color] Exo said up to her while examining the cliff she’d jumped up for a way up, glancing up at her and becoming aware that that their self imposed challenged was slowing her down to an extent that might be considered worrisome and then glanced over at one of the creatures, a mountain goat, that was busy trying to make the area its home.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I mean technically it a thing that mortals can do now so...”[/color] they said to themselves, before flicking a beam reclaim at the goat, dismantling a number of strands of fur, before re-materializing them and then, in rapid fashion created a small vial of polymorphine and then downing the concoction and rapidly gaining the hooves, legs and horns of the goat in a satyr like configuration. With their new specialized legs and instincts the Explorer rapidly ascended the cliff with an inhuman but still entirely natural speed and grace.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”There we go. Now what was this about an extradimentionaly sourced structure?”[/color] they asked once they had caught up

[code]Alien chemistry applied on the biochemical system… peculiar.[/code] she whispered to herself as she saw the polymorphine in action, before sighing at the Coilbrywen-like Exo caught up to her. [code]I am afraid I cannot direct you to the building as it is long gone. It held at its core a sort of crystal that did something completely anathema to the rules of this world… it created coldness. Analysis of the structure showed the stone used in the construction to not be galbar-sourced and it seemed Galbarian life could not survive within its vicinity. I… accidentally turned off the system of the structure thinking it was creating the anomaly. Then quickly discovered it was containing it as it brought the whole south to absolute zero temperatures. I have since corrected it and contained the cold crystal core in the south pole yet the structure itself quickly collapsed into gravel during this incident.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Ah so that is why that part of the disk is cold, and here I thought it was a deliberate design decision. Well no matter, it was still convenient for creating a weather cycle in the wilds. It is unfortunate that the machinery was destroyed. And slightly concerning that something so dangerous came through. Dangerous on a regional rather than individual scale I mean, like the near ubiquitous monsters are.”[/color]  Exo replied, keeping up a much better pace now with their new modifications. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I’ll have to keep an eye out for such things on my future travels. If there was one such oddity there might be more, just waiting to cause all sorts of trouble”[/color] they noted, before veering back to the unaddressed topic of the transformation that they’d undergone [color=LightSteelBlue]”Oh and if you were wonder what gave me these new legs, that would be Polympohpine, a drug I have invented and aught the recipe for to the nomads. It allows the drinker to take on desired attributes of a life form, be it native or alien. Its intended use is for making exploring new environments easier by co-opting native species’s pre-existing adaptations to said environments, though as you can imagine it has a fair number of other uses as well”[/color]

The goddess nodded with enthusiasm at the explanation. [code]Oh! That is what it is called? Very interesting. It's a clever invention and it gives mortals some way to overcome their limitations by doing things themselves that otherwise would only be possible through the intervention of gods.[/code] as they travelled upward, the air became even more humid as the mountain thinned and the waterfalls congregated, meanwhile, the cordgrass and similar plants that grew in the region were becoming increasingly annoying. 

The goddess' temporary amusement gave way to more serious worries as her mind traversed back to the topic of portals. [code]While portals are becoming rarer. Especially the massive ones. Possibly thanks to the restored stability of the world. I worry about what will start to happen once mortals occupy more space. Portals can be very small and the things in portals can be very sensible to human interaction. Furthermore. It seems to me that while the big portals tend to lend to worlds conceptually similar to ours… the smaller ones don’t seem to be quite as bound to that rule.[/code] she looked upward, towards the approaching light of the godly city [code]I have been thinking of how to best approach this. A heavy handed inspection of people’s homes for potential hidden away portals seems too likely to just antagonize mortalkind.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Closer inspection sometimes shows that even the ones that look similar hide strangeness all of their own.”[/color] Exo noted, but otherwise agreed. It was going to be a problem.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Also as the population increases it seems like it would become an untenable task. Or at least a very dull and time consuming one. Plus as you’ve pointed out, such direct meddling is unlikely to be welcomed. It might be best to delegate such a task to the human’s themselves?”[/color] Exo suggested [color=LightSteelBlue]”I and Ze’kelia have done a great deal of research into more nuanced portal manipulation on that new north western island. Which we made. You should visit it some time. Anyway, we've acquired quite the volume of data about how to close, open, hold open, detect, etc. these gateways. I’ve been looking into ways to hand down those findings but, well, the research has all been done with rather high end and energy physics, and translating that into something humans can actually do has been proven. difficult.”[/color] 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I mean yes, we could make tools and machines and just... hand them out. But I think self reliance is beneficial both for them and for us in most cases. They get control over another aspect of their lives and we don't have to worry about maintaining, replacing or manufacturing more machinery for them.”[/color] They said, as they approached the summit of the mountain, and the city that was only moments away.

[code]My solution is far more organic. See. I think acts such as housekeeping and gardening are a good way to keep the mind clear and grounded before acts such as research. As such I have divided a group of students at the academy as something called custodians. Well… turns out ever since a lot of mortals have been asking me over and over if they could hire them to work on their homes.[/code] as the mountain path started to become increasingly easier to traverse as the mountain peaked. [code]Astella said I should do it. At first I did not see a reason but now talking to you… I guess they could provide a very discreet way of keeping an eye on portals hidden away in the urban environment all the while providing a service mortals would be interested in without suspecting there is a god behind them. Of course this is far from the only solution to the issue. But it will likely be my own approach[/code]

As they stepped into the boundaries of the city, now already looking quite majestic in all directions as more and more embassies were made, two women of appearance similar to I’Iro, the automatons called Lacemeisters, arrived. One of them carried a small reel of a black substance. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Hmm. I suppose you could even classify dealing with these micro portals as a form of tidying up, so they wouldn't even really be lying about what they are doing. I can see some gaps in their coverage already, but for keeping the large population centers clean, it seems like an excellent plan.”[/color] Exo agreed, though they were noticing a pattern of... Benevolently intentioned privacy violation at this point, which was mildly concerning. They were, however, perfectly distracted from that concern by the arrival to the city and of  I’Iro’s mimics.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Oh is this the scroll you mentioned. And are these… hmmm. Interesting. Were these designs based on something? Or did they come built in? There’s certain features that seem familiar to me? Also Sys... my internal system is rearing up and making a racket about those parts being ’stolen’ for some reason.”[/color] Exo said, cringing a little as if they had a headache for a few moments before they managed to clear up the alerts they were getting about copyright infringement and a failure on their part to safeguard assets and technological secrets

[code]Indeed! I integrated in them some new techniques to transfer memory as such you will not only find raw information but also some recordings of my senses when I experienced certain areas such as that alien structure I mentioned.[/code] at the comment on her Lacemeisters she was more than a little surprised [code]Ah. Are you familiar with Uwne? They are based in part on some of the mechanisms I noticed in their Golems. Though they were also made by repurposing my construction spider machines which were used in the foundation of this city of embassies.[/code] 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Uwne’s golems had those parts in them? But how did they get in... ahhhh”[/color] Exo slapped their forehead with their fingertips [color=LightSteelBlue]”I forgot to clean up those half built mechs from when we fought by accident, and he must have used them as a basis for these golems. Or at least taken some components from them. I can see why the system was complaining about having allowed designs to be leaked. Not that I mind either of you having them. But it is something to take note of, not just leaving things lying around like I did. Or then again maybe I should, it seems to have worked out this time.”[/color] They said, mostly to themselves, before shaking their head and trying to get back on track.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Ah, sorry, where were we? Ah yes, the scrolls! Quite the versatile medium you have created here. I don’t suppose you have one for detailing how to make more of these? I owe you a library of biological blueprints after all. And I could throw in some Layer expiration recordings while I am at it, oh and the various gateway experiments too. I’m sure those could come in handy. A few interesting elements too, the magic repelling and attracting ones of course. Oh and the polymorphine recipe too. Hmm. Yes. Oh wait. Sorry I’m rambling again.”[/color] they finally caught themselves [color=LightSteelBlue]”I just do so enjoy new places and knowledge and both you and this place are proving an excellent source so far. For that you have my sincere gratitude.”[/color]

I’Iro smiled. Very much interested in every single thing offered by the fellow deity [code]Hmm. It is a bit complicated. So far I have not figured out yet how to create these without godly intervention. However... this Lacemeister here.[/code] she pointed to the second one behind the one who held the scroll. [code]Is ready to transcribe information into a blank scroll if you broadcast your thoughts to it.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Ah, shame it’s not easily replicateable. Oh well. Let’s have a look and see how this thought broadcast revival works”[/color] they said, before a purple beam glowed out from above Exo and onto the head of the Lacemeister. It wobbled erratically for a few moments before steadying into a soft waving motion. [color=LightSteelBlue]”There we go, that was simple enough. Beginning transfer.”[/color] Exo announced, causing a stream of pulses to flow down through the beam and into the head of the Lacemeister.  

While the flow of information would likely overwhelm a mortal, as if a whole library was being read aloud per minute, to the machine mind of the Lacemeister there was little doubt of what to do, she merely converted what was being transferred, holding the black scroll against her fingers and sliding it as the information was transcribed. Still, by the end of it, they sighed and fanned air to their bodies with her hand. {Operation concluded. System in almost critical temperatures. Initiating cooldown}

[code]You did well 26. Rest easy.[/code] I’Iro picked up the scroll and nodded. [code]Seems like there is nothing compromising this. So yes. Thank you very much. Before we distract ourselves by taking in years worth of information. I would like to say there is a special section in the scroll I gave you detailing the embassies and how they work and my and Astella’s vision for this city. I would be nice if you could join us with a facility of your own there seems to be a technology and culture focused sector growing in the south as you will see.[/code]

Exo flicked their gaze away from the start of the scroll that they had already begun reading and rapidly skimmed down to the section about embassies. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Interesting. I imagine I won't be around or back here too often. There is so much to see and do after all. But it is centrally located, so it would be good to have something here. hmmm.”[/color] They thought for a moment, then produced a satchel bag and carefully stored the scroll inside it before asking [color=LightSteelBlue]”Might as well take a look and see what there is before committing to anything. Would be nice to find a place to sit and read this”[/color] they patted the bag containing the scrolls [color=LightSteelBlue]”while I’m at it”[/color]

I’Iro nodded and bobbed her head to the side. [code]Let us go to my academy then. It is the closest location to here and it should be comfortable enough for you.[/code] with that she turned around and started moving into the city.

Soon they would walk into the artificial hills of the academy, the walls and architecture clearly unlike anything a human could even imagine much less build. The best spot to rest was up a green ramp, atop one of the slope shaped structures, with a bench beneath a large tree and surrounded by a garden and flowing water.

Exo gave an impressive whistle while taking it all in [color=LightSteelBlue]”Now this, this is architecture. The way you’ve woven structure and landscape together? Just lovely.”[/color] Not only was it a wonderfully peaceful place, perfect for absorbing vast amounts of data as the machine was about to do, but it also gave a nice view of the other areas, both filled and unfilled with structures made by the city’s divine patrons. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I’m having ideas already”[/color] 

I’Iro smiled [code]It was my objective to have an ambient that was both harmonic and did not imbue the students with a sense of lesserness or hierarchical inferiority. It was a bit hard considering most data on architecture I collected comes from a monumentalist mortal perspective but I enjoyed the result.[/code] the goddess force once was slightly distracted only returning her focus when the other god mentioned his ideas. [code]Ah. Excellent. Let us take a break to discuss these then. Do not worry about resources and I have my own workforce to help you if you need one.[/code]

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Your help would be most welcome. Materials mainly, but architectural advice would be most helpful. Not exactly the concern of the nomads, nor of what or who ever filled my internal construction catalog. Almost everything in there is mobile to a greater or lesser degree.”[/color] Exo replied, before going through his ideas. An archive, a mobile observatory, and a home that wouldn't pointlessly and emptilly occupy space when the machine was out of the city 99% of the time.

After some discussion to refine the ideas, and a great deal of consultation on construction techniques, the machine, with the help of I’Iro’s own mechanical work force, added onto the academy, planting a few open flowing parks underneath which they buried large archives curated by [url=https://cdn-animation.artstation.com/p/video_sources/000/361/248/eye-anim-render.mp4]floating drones[/url], the contents in which could be accessed from a number of small information mounds scattered around the academy, and a few more in the city propper that generally specialized in tourist information, again crewed by those same drones that acted as cheerfully helpful clerks and curators of the knowledge buried beneath the city. Over the years Exo themselves would use the archive as a place to store maps and travel guides created by them during their journeys across the world, as well as research notes and thesis made by them and the odd interesting document or trinket they thought the central city would benefit from having access too. The rest of the archived would gradually fill with practically anything and everything as Exo’s insistence that anyone could and should be allowed to contribute to it resulted in all manner of things being stored there, from scientific information to poetry, propaganda, art, various gubbins put in as practical jokes, cursed tombs, personal items stored and then forgotten, historical records, illicit substances stored under code names, legal documents, culture artifacts, message boards, quest requests, buried human remains, religious scripture and so much more being stored within, rendering it a fascinating and deep if rather difficult to use repository of far to much information, all accessible by request on the surface. The most famous and probably actually useful usage was the creation and subsequent careful curation of a section dedicated to the storage of detailed articles on any and all knowledge, no matter how mundane or fantastical, known as the endless encyclopedia of everything ever, or the 4E section. The small but highly dedicated scholarly order that founded the archive put a great deal of effort into monitoring and curating the contents of the 4E section, striving to maintain the quality and accuracy of the information held within. 

Secondly Exo built their own completely unique structure, not on the mountain but instead hovering around it. The floating observatory circled the mountain, its vast and multi-sensory telescope gazing down at the shard or up at the heavens. The structure allowed visitors to scry far off sights not only through that lens, but also upon an incredibly intricate and detailed three dimensional map found in a central chamber, the projection updated each time the siphon moon skimmed across the sky. The final feature of the system was an elaborate contraption that ended up working as a glorified trebuchet that could throw entities capable of surviving the flight on a one way trip to far off lands. A subsequent invention of specially built gliders made the celestial  trebuchet both somewhat mortal accessible and resulted in fewer impact craters benign caused by powerful beings falling from the sky.

Finally unlike some of the others, the god did not set up a large and permanent home, instead preferring to live in a simple yurt in one of the city’s fields or parks whenever they were visiting, if they weren't crashing at the home of whatever person they were here to see or vanishing back into the wider world before they needed to spend the night in the city. Interestingly, no one ever saw the yurt being set up, it was simply there whenever Exo, or anyone else considered worthy, needed it. A second entrance could also sometimes appear within the yurt, leading out from the physical location and into a small peaceful wilderness that could be found nowhere on the shard and yet, because the gods still had power there, was simultaneously not of another world either. 

After the work was done, the god had a lovely time exploring the city, getting to know its people and places, but all too soon they’d plumbed the depths of the mountain’s heights and found themselves in their new observatory, a map of the entire shard splayed out before them. Hundreds and hundreds of little lights marked on it, each and every one a point of interest to the Explorer. So many that it would take centuries to sift through them all.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”Now then,”[/color] the Machine who refused to be called a god said to themselves [color=LightSteelBlue]”Where. To. Next”[/color] 

[hider=summary]
Set pre-timeskip. A few days after they revitalized the Western Wilds/Gateway steppes, Exo heads back out into the wider world.

They decide to see what is up with the city on the central mountain first. Approaching it in their true form they are stopped by I’Iro just before they arrive, who politely asks them to not roll around in their true form as it may upset the locals

Exo complies and lands at the base of the mountain in their human form, before inviting I’Iro to go for a walk all the way up the mountain to reach the city. They go and talk as they climb.

Exo jumps straight to asking why I’Iro describes herself as “ functioning as the god of dreams” and from there they discuss the old gods, layers, the ruins of the old world and the issue of micro gateways. I’Iro describes a ruse she has fashioned to provide a cleaning service to the natives of large cities that will covertly check for these micro portals. The pair also agree on an in good faith information sharing deal, Exo learning I’Iro’s alien alchemy while they provide her with the archive of layer life they have collected, some exotic materials also discovered in th layers, along with their research on gateways and how to make polymorphine.  

They reach the city and are met by some of I’Iro’s androids, who Exo discovers are partially based on components from their space mechs by way of Uwne’s golems. Then they trade information. Finally Exo gets a little tour of the city and finally creates 3 things

A buried archive accessible via information booths run by small drones which can be added to by everyone without much in the way of curation. 

An observatory that hovers around the outside of the city, and who’s telescope can be used to view far of lands or the heavens. It also has a 3d map, updated whenever the Siphon moon flies overhead, and a celestial catapult, which can launch people to locations on the shard (mortals require some kind of magic or machinery to survive this yeeting).

Finally, they set up a Yurt that only appears when they, or someone else, needs it but can also appear on basically any open space. This Yurt also has a second exit that leads to a pocket dimension containing a small peaceful wilderness. 

After that Exo spends some time exploring the rest of the city for a few days, before heading for the observatory and planning out all the different places they want to visit on the shard, something they’ll be up to for a long, long time.
[/hider]