>>5281185“Well then, where to begin…” The Archnerd shuffles through some papers on his end. “From what we’ve discovered, the <span class="mu-g">ATLANTEANS</span> as we call them possess scientific and engineering expertise that borders the unfathomable. The fact that what little artifacts we’ve recovered are still functional coupled with their ability to confound and elude our attempts at reverse-engineering suggest a society of very intelligent, yet also <span class="mu-i">EXTREMELY</span> paranoid people.”
“A dangerous combination, <span class="mu-i">non</span>?” Sybil asks, eyes flitting in your direction. Oh great, she’s speaking <span class="mu-i">MEXICAN</span> again…
“We at the university believe this implies that Atlanteans must be in some manner of ‘<span class="mu-i">arms race</span>’ with another civilization–not that we have much evidence to determine who. Whoever or <span class="mu-i">what</span>ever spurred so much technological development must be comparatively cunning, however–why else would the Atlanteans make it so difficult to dissect their devices?”
You don’t like people messing with your stuff either, you reply. Your ‘<span class="mu-i">friend</span>’ Sybil still won’t give you back this skirt you loaned her-
“For the last time,” The ‘<span class="mu-i">friend</span>’ in question growls, “That was <span class="mu-s">MINE.</span> You borrowed it from me and <span class="mu-i">forgot</span>.”
Cementics. Point is, maybe these Atlantans just don’t want people touching their crap?
“Well we can’t rule it out, I suppose.” Darby admits with a shrug in his tone. “In any case, what we <span class="mu-i">have</span> been able to recover suggests a humanoid form–similar skeletal structure, albeit taller than the average human, a strict social hierarchy based around knowledge and merit, and a natural affinity for the use and manipulation of <span class="mu-g">WILD MAGIC.</span> Funny how we’ve come full-circle, isn’t it?”
Yea, yea, you groan, keep going!
“As I was saying, most, if not all of their technology revolves around the use, transformation, and even <span class="mu-i">blocking</span> of <span class="mu-g">WILD MAGIC.</span>” Darby continues. “One piece we obtained was, upon inspection by a mage colleague, found to be <span class="mu-i">completely</span> and <span class="mu-i">utterly</span> devoid of any trace of magic–so much so that we could almost consider it a magical insulator of sorts.” He pauses to take a sip from an unseen beverage. “It appeared to have come from some masonry–a wall, most likely.”
So what, you mutter as you put the pieces together yourself, they’re trying to keep magic <span class="mu-i">out</span>? Makes sense to you!
“Possibly.” The professor guesses. “But it could also keep magic <span class="mu-i">in</span> as well, yes?”
“It could…” Sybil nods, rubbing her chin in thought. “That would certainly be useful in an emergency, hm, Stanley?”
You respond with a scowl. The <span class="mu-i">hell</span>’s she looking at you for?!
“Remember those usage logs?”
Oh. Right.
>CONTD. 