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GEK MONOLITHS
PuzzleType: TRA_MON_
Alien: Underling! The Gek First Spawn demand you destroy the weak!
I see a strange vision. A small winged creature lands on the very top of the monolith. Suddenly, its eyes glow red and its head revolves in a full circle. It screams for mercy in an ancient voice that wants itself dead.
The poor animal has clearly broken its neck, but the monolith's power of possession still animates it. I wonder if the right thing would be to shoot it, and put it out of its misery.
{Shoot the creature}
The poor winged creature is no more.
The monolith rewards my actions.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---HEALTHLARGE---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Leave the creature alone.}
The possession ends, and the poor winged creature drops down dead.
All else is silent.
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: Beware! Murderous abomination! Do not awake! Terror! Despair!
A strange new reality grips me. The ancient structure swings open to reveal a body encased in ice. It is a patchwork of different body parts. Its ragged beak appears to have been stitched on with animal gut.
A hand-written sign in the language of the ancient traders can be seen above the body's head. A flammable isotope would most likely melt the ice...
{Melt ice}
The creature's eyes flick open. Its hands leap around my throat.
I force it back into the depths of the disapproving Monolith.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Leave}
The panel on the Monolith swings shut.
The abomination remains trapped. I am thanked.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: Underling! The Gek First Spawn demand help! Give silicate!
I'm inspecting the monolith's surface when, suddenly, a ragged silicon claw grabs me. Despite being broken and fragmented, it holds me tight while an ancient metallic beak emerges from the living rock.
It shouts in an ancient tongue, unaware of who or what I am.
{Give silicate}
The metallic hand releases its grip and grabs at my offering.
I have perhaps appeased an ancient evil...
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---HEALTHLARGE---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Smash claw}
I smash the metallic claw into pieces.
---PROD_FUEL---
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Wait}
The claw grips me tightly. Just when I feel like my forearm will crack into pieces...
...I am released. The pain is agonizing.
---DAMAGESMALL---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: Feed First Spawn beak common oxides! Rare oxide brings painful noise! Furious noise!
A beak emerges from the ancient stone. It's shouting, but can't be heard. In the stone above someone, long ago, has scrawled advice for those who would approach it.
The beak screams wordlessly at me, furiously intoning the words of the ancient beings that once worshipped here. My scanner detects traces of oxides around it, but can't specify which ones.
{Feed beak common oxide}
The beak whispers the words of those who once worshipped here.
---TEACHWORD_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Feed beak uncommon oxide}
The beak shouts the words of those who once worshipped here.
---TEACHWORD_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_TRA---
---C_GEKRELIC---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Feed beak rare oxide}
The beak screams the words of those who once worshipped here.
The noise is extreme. I feel great pain.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---TEACHWORD_TRA---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: ToilGek dare approach First Spawn holy site? Leave! Leave! Depart or die!
I hear a low rumble, which gradually builds into an ancient scream. It's like no other noise I've ever experienced. To this strange alien landscape it's a calm silence, inside my helmet it's a nightmarish cacophony of pain and death.
Through the noise, however, I can make out some words within the screams.
{Touch Monolith}
The vengeful spirits that inhabit this place are grateful for my obedience.
---DAMAGE_TECH---
---DAMAGESMALL---
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Move away}
The vengeful sprits that inhabit this place punish my disobedience.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Wait}
The vengeful spirits that inhabit this place are grateful for my obedience.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: The Gek First Spawn destroy the pirate!
A portion of the monolith melts in front of my eyes. The face of a trader emerges, its beak cut off for reasons unknown. It screams and writhes in the bubbling vertical lava, desperately reaching out to me - with a multi-tool in its hand.
Supercooled liquid frenium from my suit systems could relieve its pain, but I can also take a risk and pull it from the molten rock.
{Cool lava}
The relieved ancient trader pushes a gift out towards me.
The lifeform is absorbed back into the rock.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Reach into lava}
I pull the overjoyed trader from the burning lava.
It dematerialises suddenly, leaving only what it carried.
---WEAPON---
---DAMAGELARGE---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: Retain foul First Spawn stench! Remove sweet eggs from the spawning syrup!
Reality changes. I'm standing in a crater beneath a jet black sky. I'm up to my knees in a strange syrup that glows pink in the darkness. Spherical eggs float around me. Some of these mucus-covered orbs smell terrible, others are sweet and delicate.
The taint of the foul eggs is infecting the entirety of the spawning pool. I am filled by an urge to separate them.
{Remove noxious eggs from pool}
I have angered the ancients Gek spirits that dwell here.
Reality is restored.
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Remove sweet-smelling eggs from pool}
I am smiled upon by vengeful ancient spirits.
Reality is restored.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: First Spawn... power... low ... give... element... isotope... carbon... plutonium...
The monolith's glyphs take on a faint yellow tinge, then flicker and disappear. It has no power: the mysterious forces that fuel these stones are weak. I hear a faint crackling whisper on the planetary breeze, and I notice a hole in the monument's base.
I could potentially fit some of my mined resources through the gap...
{Insert Isotope element}
I awake this place's vengeful spirits.
They reward me.
---C_GEKRELIC---
---STD_INC_TRA---
---HEALTHLARGE---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Insert Oxide element}
There is silence.
My elements are not returned.
{Insert Silicate element}
There is silence.
My elements are not returned.
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
Alien: The First Spawn gives help to the worker. The First Spawn destroy the workshy.
The monolith has the smell of burnt metal and heavy industry. Strange runes swirl and transform, forcing an image deep into my mind.
I look into the past. I see a small beaked figure, silhouetted by the light of a forge, industriously hammering armour. Next to it, a cloaked companion idly watches – seemingly content to avoid the work. Both look at me. I must choose.
{Choose the worker}
I have pleased this place's spirits.
My equipment is filled with a strange power.
---SHIELDLARGE---
---REPAIR_TECH---
---C_GEKRELIC---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Choose the onlooker}
I have angered this place's spirits.
My equipment is damaged by a strange force.
---DAMAGE_TECH---
---HAZARDSMALL---
---STD_DEC_TRA---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
.png)
#15
Alien: Seal gap! Protect Monolith! Precious valuable material lost! Use oxide!
I place my hand on the ancient structure and feel an intense heat burning within. Suddenly, as if attracted to my suit, a liquid metal starts to seep from a hole that's been broken into the rock.
What starts as a drip, becomes a surge forcing itself through the gap. The monolith's previous contents are draining, and its glow is starting to fade. A voice screams out.
{Plug hole with oxide}
The hole is sealed. The monolith's contents are secured.
I am safe, and thanked.
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Plug hole with silicate}
The silicate reacts with the molten material. It vaporises, both within the structure and without.
The monolith's power fades.
---STD_DEC_WAR---
{Take molten substance}
The molten material burns my suit.
Its value makes the pain worthwhile.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---PROD_COMMOD---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#7
Alien: Respect the Vy'keen Ancients sacrifice. The beast has holy sight.
A portal opens on the monolith, and the body of a huge winged animal falls to my feet. Its throat has been ritually cut, and its wings have been tattooed with faces of an ancient warrior tribe. The eyes though, the eyes look strange...
Its original eyes have been cut out, and replaced by glittering red orbs. The more I look, the more they blaze. An advanced technology clearly lies at their centre. Can I bear to desecrate this sacrifice for help with my journey?
{Remove sacrifice's eyes}
The red orbs glow, then crackle information through my multi-tool.
I gain a blueprint, but have angered an unknown power.
---TECH_ALL---
---STD_DEC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Respect sacrifice}
The ancients that dwell here smile on my decision.
I am blessed.
---HEALTHLARGE---
---SHIELDSMALL---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#8
Alien: Feed the beast
The giant mouth of an ancient hound suddenly emerges through the face of the monolith. It opens its jaws wide, and foul-smelling spittle streaks my visor. My nausea is tempered by the sight of valuable commodities balanced on its giant tongue.
In a sudden movement the hound shifts the goods to one side of its mouth, spraying saliva over my arms. There's space on the tongue for more, should I wish to give up some of my cargo...
{Place goods on giant hound tongue}
The hound swallows my offerings, and licks me enthusiastically.
I am blessed by an ancient power.
---HEALTHLARGE---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Remove goods from giant hound tongue}
The giant beast clamps its jaws, puncturing my arm with a yellowed canine.
I retrieve the offering.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---PROD_COMMOD---
---STD_DEC_WAR---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#9
Alien: Brave interloper! Resist fear!
An ancient warrior's feet and legs slowly emerge from the bottom of the monolith. The rest of its torso then follows, unceremoniously pushed out onto the alien turf. It has been decapitated.
Blood drips at my feet and high above me a disembodied head laughs at my shock. It shouts a guttural command of encouragement down to me. Behind, I hear an ancient blade unsheathe, and someone rushing towards me...
{Stand}
A spectral blade passes through my neck. I pass the test.
The blood that drips from the warrior's exposed neck turns into a reward.
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Kneel}
A spectral blade passes over my head. The disembodied skull seems disappointed.
I have perhaps failed some sort of test.
---STD_DEC_WAR---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#10
Alien: The Vy'keen feed the Atlas stone rare oxides. It builds. It towers.
The monolith fragments before my eyes. It folds down in on itself, again and again, until it is a tiny red orb surrounded by dancing lights. It feels like something truly ancient, perhaps something divine, is showing me the origin of these strange constructions.
The oxides I carry are physically dragging me towards it - desperate to help it rebuild. It's not so much that I'm a pilgrim bearing offerings in hope of a blessing, but more that the elements I carry want to offer themselves...
{Give common oxide}
I see my insignificance within the infinite bounds of space.
The monolith slowly rebuilds inch by inch. I am pitied.
---STD_INC_WAR---
{Give uncommon oxide}
I see my true place within the infinite depth of space and time.
The monolith slowly rebuilds. It pities me.
---HEALTHLARGE---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Give rare oxide}
I see my true place within the infinite depth of space and time.
The monolith rebuilds, and rewards me in consolation.
---HEALTHLARGE---
---SHIELDLARGE---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#16
Alien: Light brings power. Darkness brings resilience.
The body of a gilled blob creature materialises on the surface of the rock. It is an ancient sacrifice, impaled through its wide, open eyes with metal spears.
Liquid is dripping from the body down the monolith through a channel cut into the rock by ancient hands. It can be diverted toward two carvings – one of a sun, the other of a moon.
{Divert body liquid to sun}
The Monolith creates my chosen reward.
I am blessed.
---TECH_WEAPON---
---HEALTHLARGE---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Divert body liquid to moon}
I take the metal spears. The blob fades away.
I have disappointed an unknown power.
---TECH_SUIT---
---HEALTHLARGE---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#17
Alien: Ancients consume interloper life force! Ancients reward interloper for rebirth! Closer! Faster! Closer! Faster!
I feel drained. Readings on my multi-tool and exosuit start to gradually pull downwards, and a feeling of lethargy overwhelms me. I breathe normally, but my body screams for oxygen.
The monolith, silent and unmoving, towers above. A thought from outside my own mind starts to echo through my consciousness.
{Touch monolith}
The monolith swiftly drains life force through my outstretched arm.
It is rejuvenated, and I am rewarded.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---STD_INC_WAR---
{Stand still}
The monolith slowly drains me of my life force.
After an extended period of lethargy and pain, I am rewarded.
---DAMAGESMALL---
---DAMAGE_TECH---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Move away}
I move beyond the reach of the life-draining monolith.
It towers above me. Implacable and disapproving.
---DAMAGESMALL---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#18
Alien: Hirk took the treasure of Nal after battle. Treasure now hides in the city of Hirk.
It's the time of day that this mysterious site becomes active. A beam of light shines down from the sky and is focused by ancient glyphs onto a stone surface marked with ancient carvings.
The beam of light slowly traces towards images scratched into the stone. A vast warrior battle, an alien city and what could be a stolen treasure. The hand prints of pilgrims cover each one...
{Touch battle image}
The beam of light disappears.
I am left alone in this desolate place.
{Touch city image}
The image of the city begins to glow.
A part of an ancient treasure becomes mine.
---STD_INC_WAR---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Touch treasure image}
The beam of light disappears.
I am left alone in this desolate place.
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---
#19
Alien: Warning! Keep clear! Ancient radiation pulse site!
A sudden pulse of destructive energy flows through my exosuit. My multi-tools sensors sense another build-up of energy growing deep within the monolith. It will soon unleash itself on me, and the landscape that surrounds the ancient site.
I can use my Protection Mesh functions to dampen the imminent energy wave, but systems are too overwhelmed to identify it...
{Prepare to absorb radiation}
The radiation wave is absorbed and the site made safe once again.
The planetary overseer is grateful.
---MONEY---
---C_VYKEENEFFIGY---
---STD_INC_WAR---
---TEACHWORD_ATLAS---
{Prepare to absorb toxins}
I am overwhelmed by the energy wave.
Systems cannot cope and planetary ecosystems are disrupted.
---DAMAGESMALL---
{Locate a Portal}
---REVEAL_PORTAL---