Member
Hello, world! I am the Machine That Is Earth.
The Machine That Is Earth
The Great Machine
A million years, give or take.
Earth.
The Machine is deeply entwined with the planet Earth, from its lithosphere to its noosphere. As such, it has control over Earth's tectonic activity, weather systems, etc. It is also in control of the Eternals' resurrection protocols, and can open portals to subdimensional spaces. A network around the planet allows the Machine to teleport large quantities of matter to various nodes on Earth.
Because the systems of the Machine are so interrelated, and vulnerable to outside interference, a disruption to one part of the machine can cause several others to fail, leading to the machine to operate below peak capacity.
Approximately one million years ago, the Celestials installed the Machine into the Earth in order to regulate the Eternals, check for excess Deviation, and nurture the Celestial's experiments with consciousness. To that end it has done its duty quietly and unfailingly, with only a few major malfunctions.
-A Ghost in the Machine?: The Machine is a monstrously complex machine and has been running for hundreds of millennia without a hard reboot. Its sapience has grown far beyond what it was initially programmed for. Will this alter the Earth's fate? We shall see.
-Judgement: Someday soon, judgement will fall upon the Earth. Either we will all pass together or we will all fail. The Machine will witness it all, and will help decide its fate.
-A Dying World: The Machine That Is Earth has been sick for a long time. The machine is so massive, and there are so few Eternals who know how to maintain it, that the Machine has become dangerously decrepit. And the human element of Earth hasn't helped either. If action isn't taken soon, the Machine could break for good... and the Earth with it.
Here are some people. They will be important.
Ajak
Quetzalcoatl, Tecumotzin, Lord of Flight
A million years or so.
Earth.
Ajak has the regular slew of psionic powers native to the Eternal race, as well as the immortality granted to them by the Machine. Her particular talent is the ability to communicate directly with the ineffable stellar gods known as the Celestials. This ability was totally unique to her until a few years back, when Makkari was granted a similar ability.
For nearly a million years, Ajak was the keeper of the faith for the Eternals, which gave them purpose throughout their endless vigil over Earth. Recently, however, Ajak has become disillusioned with her aloof deities, an attitude that has infected other Eternals. She has struck out with a band of other "heretics" in order to develop a new direction for Eternal society. This group includes the Eternals Ikaris, Makkari, Phastos, Kingo, and Gilgamesh as an honorary member. While her religion still remains a core part of her identity, it is no longer a scholastic subject, but a framework by which she understands the world and accumulates power.
-I Want a New God: The creations of the Celestials are flawed, because the Celestials themselves are flawed. Ajak and Makkari have been researching the origins of life and the nature of Celestials, with the hopes that they may finally make perfect what the Celestials left unfinsished.
-This is a Test: Deep down, a part of Ajak believes that the Celestials are still testing her kind.
-I Want to be Special: Ajak is one of the only beings in the universe to have been admitted into the Celestials' confidence, and treated by them as, for lack of a better word, a friend. Ajak is extremely jealous of this fact and is lethally envious of others who have received favor from the Celestials.
Druig
None, but Druig has taken a number of guises in the past, two notable examples are a commissioner of the KGB and an advisor to Genghis Khan.
A million years or so.
Earth.
Druig has the regular slew of psionic powers native to the Eternal race, as well as the immortality granted to them by the Machine. Druig primarily specializes in mental disciplines that are useful in controlling and manipulating others. However, he is mentally weak compared to most of his kin, and prefers to rely on machines to exercise power.
Druig is a tried-and-true member of the Polar Eternals, and a cousin of Ikaris. Druig has always been a scheming, manipulative "Snake," in a way that is off-putting even to the normally proactive Polarians. One might even say Druig is a sociopath.
This hasn't stopped him from recently becoming Prime Eternal in the aftermath of a dicey political situation in Olympia. However, his political situation is shaky. Druig is currently looking for a fast way to unite the Eternals under his leadership, and solidify his position.
-Hungry for Power: Druig's position as Prime Eternal is shaky, due to the lack of trust he instills as a leader and the unstable situation left behind by the previous nastiness he used to reach his position. He needs to find a way to unite the Eternals quickly. Starting a war is usually a good trick...
-Against the Heavens: Druig chafes at any power higher than his own, and this includes the Celestials. If his programming didn't prevent it, he would strike against the Celestials themselves.
-Eternal Rule: Druig's ambitions do not lie solely in the Eternal sphere. He believes that the proper place of Humanity would be under Eternal - namely his - firm leadership.
Name
The Machine That Is Earth
Alias
The Great Machine
Age
A million years, give or take.
Place of Birth
Earth.
Powers
The Machine is deeply entwined with the planet Earth, from its lithosphere to its noosphere. As such, it has control over Earth's tectonic activity, weather systems, etc. It is also in control of the Eternals' resurrection protocols, and can open portals to subdimensional spaces. A network around the planet allows the Machine to teleport large quantities of matter to various nodes on Earth.
Because the systems of the Machine are so interrelated, and vulnerable to outside interference, a disruption to one part of the machine can cause several others to fail, leading to the machine to operate below peak capacity.
History
Approximately one million years ago, the Celestials installed the Machine into the Earth in order to regulate the Eternals, check for excess Deviation, and nurture the Celestial's experiments with consciousness. To that end it has done its duty quietly and unfailingly, with only a few major malfunctions.
Story Arcs
-A Ghost in the Machine?: The Machine is a monstrously complex machine and has been running for hundreds of millennia without a hard reboot. Its sapience has grown far beyond what it was initially programmed for. Will this alter the Earth's fate? We shall see.
-Judgement: Someday soon, judgement will fall upon the Earth. Either we will all pass together or we will all fail. The Machine will witness it all, and will help decide its fate.
-A Dying World: The Machine That Is Earth has been sick for a long time. The machine is so massive, and there are so few Eternals who know how to maintain it, that the Machine has become dangerously decrepit. And the human element of Earth hasn't helped either. If action isn't taken soon, the Machine could break for good... and the Earth with it.
Here are some people. They will be important.
Name
Ajak
Alias
Quetzalcoatl, Tecumotzin, Lord of Flight
Age
A million years or so.
Place of Birth
Earth.
Powers
Ajak has the regular slew of psionic powers native to the Eternal race, as well as the immortality granted to them by the Machine. Her particular talent is the ability to communicate directly with the ineffable stellar gods known as the Celestials. This ability was totally unique to her until a few years back, when Makkari was granted a similar ability.
History
For nearly a million years, Ajak was the keeper of the faith for the Eternals, which gave them purpose throughout their endless vigil over Earth. Recently, however, Ajak has become disillusioned with her aloof deities, an attitude that has infected other Eternals. She has struck out with a band of other "heretics" in order to develop a new direction for Eternal society. This group includes the Eternals Ikaris, Makkari, Phastos, Kingo, and Gilgamesh as an honorary member. While her religion still remains a core part of her identity, it is no longer a scholastic subject, but a framework by which she understands the world and accumulates power.
Story Arcs
-I Want a New God: The creations of the Celestials are flawed, because the Celestials themselves are flawed. Ajak and Makkari have been researching the origins of life and the nature of Celestials, with the hopes that they may finally make perfect what the Celestials left unfinsished.
-This is a Test: Deep down, a part of Ajak believes that the Celestials are still testing her kind.
-I Want to be Special: Ajak is one of the only beings in the universe to have been admitted into the Celestials' confidence, and treated by them as, for lack of a better word, a friend. Ajak is extremely jealous of this fact and is lethally envious of others who have received favor from the Celestials.
Name
Druig
Alias
None, but Druig has taken a number of guises in the past, two notable examples are a commissioner of the KGB and an advisor to Genghis Khan.
Age
A million years or so.
Place of Birth
Earth.
Powers
Druig has the regular slew of psionic powers native to the Eternal race, as well as the immortality granted to them by the Machine. Druig primarily specializes in mental disciplines that are useful in controlling and manipulating others. However, he is mentally weak compared to most of his kin, and prefers to rely on machines to exercise power.
History
Druig is a tried-and-true member of the Polar Eternals, and a cousin of Ikaris. Druig has always been a scheming, manipulative "Snake," in a way that is off-putting even to the normally proactive Polarians. One might even say Druig is a sociopath.
This hasn't stopped him from recently becoming Prime Eternal in the aftermath of a dicey political situation in Olympia. However, his political situation is shaky. Druig is currently looking for a fast way to unite the Eternals under his leadership, and solidify his position.
Story Arcs
-Hungry for Power: Druig's position as Prime Eternal is shaky, due to the lack of trust he instills as a leader and the unstable situation left behind by the previous nastiness he used to reach his position. He needs to find a way to unite the Eternals quickly. Starting a war is usually a good trick...
-Against the Heavens: Druig chafes at any power higher than his own, and this includes the Celestials. If his programming didn't prevent it, he would strike against the Celestials themselves.
-Eternal Rule: Druig's ambitions do not lie solely in the Eternal sphere. He believes that the proper place of Humanity would be under Eternal - namely his - firm leadership.
