Narrative: Anthropology Team Logs

Automated Artistic Rendering X2956.7 – Today we came across this view on what the local populace refer to as: The Ancient Ruins. Aptly so, I suppose… If only they knew.

On a side note: The ruins here are shunned by the ‘orcs’. They consider them holy places, which are not to be disturbed. It is strange that the orcs are seen as crude, mindless savages by the other races here, while they are clearly the wisest ‘native’ race we’ve encountered so far.

Intriguing! These people have fully forgotten their roots. Popular belief has it that mankind fell from heaven in sin, and is now in purgatory awaiting judgement. Fits nicely with all the talk about demons around here.

Automated Artistic Rendering X3018.4 – One of our nano-drones found two of these ‘orcs’ performing one of their ‘holy’ rituals. They grow the crystals in simple shapes, using them to craft their -shall we say- unique armor and decorations

A Clockmaker working on his ‘clock’. It is astonishing to behold an uncivilised society that has mastered technology to create complex robotics, using nothing more than steam power and spring-operated gears. How they are capable of creating A.I.’s this advanced is yet a mystery.

I’m morbidly fascinated! Many claim that there’s such a thing as a Flesh Clock. An animated corpse or sown together body of dead flesh come back to life. The sheer superstition of these people keeps amazing me. The living conditions here are far from ideal. Surely some project their fears on ill-looking individuals.

I see now where the native superstition originates from. Truth be told the wolves are ghastly but nothing more, a remarkable beast transformed by the lowhow of this world. Preposterous!

It appears that the Dwarves are a bit paranoid, as these fortifications guarding their realm seem nigh impregnable and have even succeeded in keeping us out. Their secrets and technology will remain a mystery for now. There must be another way in, because it defies common sense that so many endothermic creatures can live off the oxygen from one single, albeit large, entrance.

These people are stuck in ages of man-made superstitions. They worship their benevolent, all-powerful “god”, yet make deals and pacts with wicked “demons” in the blink of an eye. Order and chaos are a part of everyday life, and they seem to not know which one to settle on. Fools.

Automated Artistic Rendering X3608.7 – Finally, a look into the vast underdark of the Dwarves. It might be a marketplace of sorts, but currently it appears empty. Easier for us to move around at least. If only they’d build the tunnel ceilings as high as they did here, we wouldn’t bump our heads constantly…

And here is the excerpt: “Sinners, repent! After our fall from the sky our species has dabbled with debauchery. We have lost the path our creator set out for us! But fear not! For our Lord is Just. Our Lord is benevolent! You can be absolved from your sins, it is not yet too late! Repent! Return to the righteous path. Pray to the Lord!’’

We have arrived on our destination and the readings are off the chart! It seems that the inhabitants of this planet have huddled together in only a few huge cities connected by large railroads. But why haven’t they ventured out further? Are they too primitive to conquer this planet?

Automated Artistic Rendering X3616.4 – Our first good view of a so-called ‘Lamia’ in a relaxed state of mind. They’re so rare that we’ve had trouble getting a good look at a specimen without it unexpectedly disappearing. Finally some progress!

Observing a Vampire salon, their noble standing degrading into debauchery behind closed doors. Disturbingly, we may have a potential non-cultural intervention breach, as one of them seems to have caught us in the act.

After our first investigation of a human settlement we are shocked by what we have seen. It seems like their civilization has completely collapsed after arrival and degressed back into the middle ages. Further research is needed to confirm these early conclusions.

In the lands beyond the human lands and, if I’m not mistaken, before the elvish lands is a small region where the so called plain elves live. These elves, as depicted in the rendering, are a bit more human-like than their forest kin. It is a shame that we are soon bound to go back home, because I would love to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Although the reasoning behind it still eludes me, the inhabitants of this place have built enormous walls around their city. It almost seems like they are afraid of something, although it is highly unlikely that any kind of creature could scale walls even half as high as these. What then? What drove them to build such gigantic walls?