Expanded Multiverse Contest #7: Shard Moons

[bonesiii]

bonesii, would you mind elaborating on the "Ghost" element, please? I'm still sort of hazy on the subject...-Void

It's a little late for this sort of thing (one day left!), but it's basically intangible or semi-tangible ghostly energy. They can be used to make walls, obscuring foglike effects, etc.

[Click]

Well, I'll see if I can expand that entry list for ya Bones. Unfortunately, school's back up, so I don't have the time I had earlier, but I aim to try and submit an entry for at least half those that you said needed them.Kinetics Shard, Nu-ClysmaxMember Name: ClickDescription: First of all, the great Olmak Anomaly in the center of Clysmax wasn’t the only one. Miners have found smaller underground Effects as well all over Clysmax, and Nu-Clysmax sits on the second largest ever recorded.An Olmak Anomaly almost the size of the entire shard had been developing and feeding energy off of the Clysmax core for a few years before the Shattering, and once it had broken loose, a massive incinerator Olmak Anomaly was revealed to the Aethion, and once it was open, it’s powerful suction had destroyed much of Nu-Clysmax, leaving a roughly bullet-shaped peak directly above it, which it also still wearing down, and has been predicted to be completely incinerated in the next 500 years.This massive Olmak Anomaly also causes a new phenomenon unseen anywhere else: it randomly spawns Olmak Anomalies everywhere within about 50 Bio on land which can appear rapidly and disappear just as quickly. A bunch of Blue Energy Scientists were never able to figure out why, although a Kinetics Matoran once hypothesized, after Team Cypher had revealed the secret of the Shattering, that a similar event once happened to this one in some way with a Toa of Kinetics, which somehow strengthened its abilities of suction and spawning like an elemental combo with Kinetics.Ever since, Nu-Matoran, Toa, and every other EM species has been coming to the desolate shard to lay their own claim to fame and prove the theory, but inadvertently discovering a new effect: the Olmak Anomaly can also absorb elemental energy, particularly Kinetics, from nearby beings, spreading an elemental dampening effect throughout the shard, and strengthening the abilities of the spawned Olmak Anomalies. They gained new abilities such as an increased spawn rate and a burst of Kinetic energy in a kind of Concussion Grenade-like effect, and then pull in with a powerful suction to the already disoriented beings. It’s expanded range has, luckily, only reached the lower half of the peak, but some scientists say that if more beings come there, the range may increase to render the entire shard uninhabitable.These many strange effects have Scientists from all species, elements, and locations flocking to this shard to establish bases and study these for new Elemental Dampening weapons, Kinetic Grenades, or just for a study of the Olmak Effect. Their massive scientific complexes form a ring just above the upper half of the solid peak. At the top lies a great city full of great advances in ground transportation technology. With the many beings flocking to it in search of their claim to fame, inventions abound; releasing at a rate that makes Experimental Industries nervous. The city christened Nu-Metru has become a city ruled by squabbling nobles who aren’t afraid to use anything from sneaky blackmail to public uses of their powers to try and gain more power over the others. Most of the other citizens occupy their time with trying to invent something new, working in one of the many smaller shops that provide ground transport, or volunteering themselves to the scientists around the equator. Nu-Clysmax has become a proud society from a dangerous area on the brink of destruction

[Void Emissary]

Here you go, just in time!Shadow Shard, Kra-ClysmaxEmissary to the VoidIf there was ever a Shard colder and more desolate than the Ice Fragment, Kra-Cylsmax is it. This Shard is the furthest away of any of the moons from the resident light source, resulting in an almost dawn-less night on the world. As a direct consequence, the moon’s surface has become incredibly cold and icy, almost totally covered in a thick layer of permafrost.Due to these harsh conditions, most of inhabitants of the Shard have taken up residence in the caverns underground, where they’ve managed to scrape together a meager existence, working hard to survive each day. This realm lacks any true government, instead, it is ruled by a motley array of conflicting warlords, each one controlling a different section of the inhabited caverns.Although inhospitable, many residents of the Shard have migrated to the cold, icy and dangerous surface, and have tried to make a life for themselves there. Their reasons for this vary widely, but many of these nomads are refugees, trying to avoid the constant civil wars that rage underground.Above ground, during the long periods of darkness, there’s almost no way of seeing without an artificial light source , something that’s rare on Kra-Clysmax. Underground, in the populated caverns, the inhabitants use an assortment of lightstones, bonfires and torches to see and work.During the Shard’s brief period of summer (when the sun rises above the horizon of the moon), enough meltwater is created to form a small waterfall and river in the caves, which supplies much of the liquid used throughout the following year. This supply is augmented by the infrequent storms that arrive regardless of season, drenching the over-world in rain and sleet, as well bringing truly terrifying bouts of lightning, one of the few things powerful enough to crack through the permafrost.The inhabitants of Kra-Clysmax generally live in the caves, due to it being the safest place possible from the elements. The underground caverns all contain within them, giant, spiraling stalactites reaching all the way down to the ice-filled bottom. These structures are one of the most famous natural occurrences on the moon, with many travelers likening them to “massive screwdrivers, hewn from stone.”It is amongst these pillars that most beings dwell, carving themselves homes in the sheer rock walls, and constantly farming for meltwater or mining for gems. However, neither of those commodities are common, and with few resources, most consider acquiring either to be a pipe dream.

~ ~ ~

Sulfur Shard, Fos-ClysmaxEmissary to the VoidOn the outside, Fos-Clysmax appears to be an inhospitable, volcanic wasteland. The majority of the moon’s surface is covered in these mountains of fire, most of which are highly active. Hot, running lava is a common sight here, and light-footedness is a requirement to survive.However, if you to look a little deeper at the Shard, you’ll see that it is one of the best places to live, out of all of the moons. Amongst the boiling lava and volcanic ash, are massive, domed cities, populated by thousands of healthy and happy (well, probably, anyway) beings.These cities are all covered by thick, clear domes, to protect against volcanic eruptions, as well as the effects of ash, smoke and burning sulfur. Artificial lighting allows the residents to go about their lives with ease, and long tunnels allow for safe access to other metropolises in the area.Fos-Clysmax is well-renowned for its hospitals and overall medical capabilities, making it one of the foremost sources of technology and expertise for doctors, physicians and surgeons. However, these are not the moon’s only exports. They’re also large producers of gunpowder, firearms, and other incendiary devices, earning them the nickname “The World of Trigger-Happy Surgeons.”Due to constant need for sulfur and sulfur compounds, routine trips to the volcanic regions of Fos-Clysmax are required, as well as brave sulfur farmers and lava-hoppers. These courageous souls are paid well to go out, and harvest sulfur from around volcanoes, risking life and limb from a number of dangers (burning, suffocation, dehydration, poisoning, etc.)While the interior of the domed cities are well-light, sometimes to the point of blinding, the outside world is kept in an nigh-constant haze of smoke and ash, leaving the air poisonous and the light dim. Anyone who tries to go outside the contained metropolises will require special clothing to protect themselves from the harsh climate, as well as a supply of oxygen in order to even try and breath. This combination of factors has left the earth impossible to cultivate, leaving the residents of the world to become dependent upon their trades with other lands.

~ ~ ~

Ghost Shard, Ka-ClysmaxEmissary to the VoidKa-Clysmax is quite possibly the text-book example of why you should not judge a book by its cover. On its surface, the Shard is one giant swamp, filled with towering trees, foreboding caves, and nigh-limitless fog and mist.However, if one were to look deeper (or in this case, higher), you would find a thriving society, filled with brilliant scientists and fearless daredevils. Amongst the treetops, where the bright sunlight can get to the inhabitants, the Ka-Matoran have built sprawling and technology-laden cities, similar in base design to those built by the Le-Matoran on the island of Mata Nui.Although the Ka-Clysmax economy has never been strained in any way (thanks in part to its mineral-rich earth), its society truly rose into legend upon its discovery of Protoplasm, an enigmatic and revolutionary new substance.Uncovered in the darkest regions of the underlying swamplands, Protoplasm is found as a thick, orange, luminescent liquid, with an apparent lack of respect for gravity. Protoplasm is almost always floating in midair, either in soupy orbs, or slow-moving streams.Ka-Matoran scientists quickly discovered that this Protoplasm, when added to any sort of elemental “ghost” energy, (as long as it has a discernible structure), it can increase the tangibility of the phantasmal structures until they becomes solid matter. However, it works the other way, as well. If one were to remove the inherent Protoplasm of an object, they could adjust the density of it until it became intangible or semi-tangible . These discoveries sparked an outpouring of inventions regarding these almost magical chemical reactions. The most famous of these, was the “Ghost Pod”, a mechanical implant that could drain, or inject Protoplasm into an object or being, allowing them to change their tangibility via manual or mental command, respectively.While entities attached to a Ghost Pod lose their tangibility and weight once the device is activated, their mass remains the same, meaning that propulsion and entropy are still forces at work. Also, the Ghost Pods only affect whatever being they are implanted in, meaning that, once active, the user can’t hold anything that isn’t surgically attached to them.The sprawling treetop cities of Ka-Clysmax are marvels of engineering in and of themselves. Largely made out of light-weight metals and plastics, the metropolises sit on the sturdiest branches possible, in an attempt to allow expansion without the risk of base collapse. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work, causing more than one tragic incident.Ka-Clysmax is a largely democratic world, ruled by the Council of Thirteen, allowing its citizens to vote on numerous important issues, as well as choosing the new council members, once the old ones either die or resign.The buildings and infrastructures of the cities themselves are also implanted with Ghost Pods, allowing them to change tangibility in order to help maintain structural integrity during earthquakes or storms. While not a perfect system by any means, it does give the citizens a small sense of security.-Void

Edited August 29, 2012 by Emissary to the Void

[LewaLew]

600 words on the dot.Sulfur Shard, Fos-ClysmaxMember Name: LewaLewDescription: When the Shattering occurred, Fos-Clysmax had all sentinent life wiped from its surface. As the fragments and inhabited shards worked to get back on their feet, Wiki-Nui and other interested parties organized research teams to explore the shard moons and assist the inhabitants in their fight to stabilize their environment, while learning about the uninhabited shards to find ways to make them habitable for colonization, if they weren't already. Ikyuma, the leader of United Promathus Workers, planted a glomosulfur expert on one of the teams. The team landed on Fos-Clysmax, collected their data, and moved on, but not before the UPW had found what they were looking for. Fos-Clysmax held abundant amounts of glomosulfur (as well as protosulfur, which is not useful for Promathus-style industry) and it was very close to the rival company, Lake Aerospace.The UPW claimed the shard and began pitching the idea of the shard becoming a manufacturing location for one of the two major companies on Promathus, nicknaming it "New Promathus". After a heated bidding war between Experimental Industries and Phantoka Motors, Phantoka Motors won out, willing to fork over more orbs and creating more jobs for UPW members in exchange for an opportunity for a factory at Lake Aerospace's home planet. The factory was up and running quickly, and their proximity to Ga-Clysmax allowed them to swiftly dispatch spies to Lake Aerospace's HQ.However, inhabitants of the neighboring shards began suffering from smog pollution from the Phantoka Motors site, and the Clysmax media took the story and ran with it. Lake Aerospace, eager to rid themselves of the Phantoka Motors spies and always willing to put a dent in their opponent, started an expansive advertising campaign accusing Phantoka Motors of polluting Clysmax. They exaggerrated, but sucesfully threw much of Clysmax in a tizzy, as well as the environmentalist groups on Alarist and Clysmax.Lake Aerospace combined with the governments of the neighboring shards and environmentalists to file suit against Phantoka Motors, who took the UPW's leader, Ikyuma as their lawyer. He sucesfully maneuvered Phantoka Motors out of responsibility for the pollution, but the suit put Phantoka Motors on edge, causing them to purchase expensive airfields from Le-Clysmax to contain the pollution until it could be extracted and destroyed by the bluespace wall, as well as to keep the smog out of their workers' living quarters.In the next CBA, the UPW agreed to change the parties in the contract to include the new, PM-owned "green" company, BlueSpace Aircraft, instead of PM, and the "United Aircraft Workers of Clysmax" a Clysmax union founded by former UPW workers who wanted to shy away from the pollution affair.Today, Fos-Clysmax looks very much like a miniature of Promathus, and still retains its nickname of "New Promathus". There are few actual inhabitants, all of which are employed by BlueSpace. Most of the workers come from neighboring shards. Plantlife and animal life has been wiped out in the same way as Promathus, and the surface sulfur is so thick that all of the residences are underground. They are very averted to the nickname of "New Promathus", however, and are very patriotic for their planet, refusing to call themselves a colony of Promathus, much to the chagrin of Phantoka Motors and the UPW. Many workers move to one of the allied shards and enlist in their armed forces at some point or another, returning later to work for BlueSpace again. Fos-Clysmax itself, however, is considered neutral, though it refuses to sell to the Ice Fragment, Tanuuk, or the evil Barrawahian clans, for fear of a strike by the idealistic UAWC.