Echo Experiment
The Echo Experiment refers to the Automatas' global construction of underground structures known as echo stations.
History
The echo stations were created by the Automatas long ago, though it is unknown exactly when and why they did so.
Dwarven age
The earliest known records mentioning the existence of echo stations were written in year 13900 A.Dw. The dwarves of that era first described staircases appearing in the ground, which led to deep underground structures. These structures, dubbed by the dwarves as "echo stations", were cleared of monsters, traps, and dangerous challenges prior to the inhabitation of dwarven researchers.
Modern Age
By year 855 A.Hu., a number of small holes suddenly appeared throughout Sylvania and revealed staircases leading to deep underground ruins. A few factions, including VASTL and Bastiynia's Department of Discovery, are known to have entered some of these ruins and clear them of danger.
Echo Stations
Echo stations are underground structures built by the Automatas and found throughout the world. From what has been discovered so far, they are consistent in content and design, though they do vary in layout. Staircases stretch a quarter-mile from the surface to the entrances of these stations, and they have been known to appear without warning.
The stations' interiors are usually filled with dangerous elements, including constructed monsters, deadly traps, and intellect challenges. Further, there are some elements that are nearly identical. They each have a room and statue dedicated to a figure known as The Prime. There are several Gallamantium doors that often require intricate keys to pass through. The stations also each contain a large mechanism of cogs and gears, a gateway to Mechanus, and a clockwork myrmidon set on guard.
Drunic Map and Gears
A map from one of the ruins seems to be a depiction of ancient Sylvania at a time when sea levels were considerably higher. Scattered throughout the map are 59 drunes written in an unknown language, and they appear to match the writings on the teeth of a massive gear.
Engraved map and diagram of drunic gear
Estimated Modern Locations
Calendar Theory
Upon investigating the gears, VASTL theorized the gears are part of an active calendar system. Each "tick" of the massive gear elapses 59 days, and each tooth represents a different location on the map. Comparing with the modern map and with records of the Dwarven Age, a rough timeline falls in place.
See Full Calendar
Gate Theory
Upon reading a journal from the dwarven age, VASTL determined that a gate to another world opens up at one of the echo stations every time the calendar ticks.
The circle rising in gear chamber lit up with orange light. Then metal creatures suddenly appeared and roamed around. A few knew our tongue and spoke with smart ones. They were from another world and invited smart ones to return with them. Some agreed, some stayed. Before crack of dusk, they went back through their gate.
Echo Experiment Theory
Dwarven researchers at Bruparth Academy theorized that the Automatas created the echo stations as part of some experiment. It was thought perhaps the echo stations allowed the Automatas to observe and evaluate the people of Sylvania, such as using difficult challenges to test those who traverse the stations. Another theory stated that the Automatas wished to emulate the lives within this world, even to the point of constructing water sources and fabricating synthetic gardens.
Locations
Inferno Peaks
On 3 Hammer 855, Rilitar Glyntoris of Bastiynia's Department of Discovery discovered and explored underground ruins within the Inferno Peaks.
Entering within, Glyntoris encountered the ruins of an ancient and extraordinary city. The architecture of this city was like none we have ever seen before: its tall, narrow buildings were made of an orange metal, all connecting to each other through a series of pipes. Walkways, artificial lights, and even a few buildings were all suspended in mid air. Glyntoris searched the city and found no signs of inhabitants, but he did find many artifacts of magic and alchemy that were previously lost to time. He found pieces of glass that could funnel light into a tiny point that burns anything it touches. There were also stockpiles of black alchemical powder that, when exposed to even the smallest spark, will ignite into a powerful explosion. But, what was certainly the greatest find was a collection of Gearboxes of Levitation.
Witlan Forest
On 13900 Thatthil 51 A.Dw., a sinkhole appeared and destroyed a house in Witlan Forest, revealing a staircase. Explorers followed the stairs into underground ruins, dealt with dangerous creatures an traps, and cleared the area for safe investigation. Every 59 days, the interior clockwork system cracked loudly at dawn and dusk. On 13901 Isram 76, the final record was made by those waiting for an interplanar gate to open.
On 13 Mirtul 855, VASTL utilized a metalloid creature to track down the precise location of underground ruins in Witlan Forest. Within the ruins they found many artifacts similar to those in the Maidrial Heights, as well as a journal describing the clockwork calendar and the related gate theory.
Old Dwarven JournalRetrospective entry. Sinkhole appeared and destroyed Parven's house. Inspection revealed a staircase leading down to these ruins. We entered and began searching for loud banging noise.
13900: Thatthil 56
Retrospective entry. Several days of investigation of ruins. Strange objects with live magic required careful dealing. Some of us almost perished. We made it through the gallamantium door, but powerful speaking statue before us. As a guess, we spoke its drune and stayed it. Later learnt this as a myrmidon.
Beyond we looked over the moving gears both in main chamber and sub chamber. Its both chaos and controlled. We need help to understand.
13900: Akath 3
Smarter others have spend a while looking over the gears and doing some numbers. They find the gears have been moving since sinkhole. Seem to believe something will occur on Akath 20.
13900: Akath 20
Many of us waited around today for something to happen, and it did. Around dawn, the gears made a loud crack sound instead of normal beat. Same occurred around dusk. Nothing else out of the ordinary. The smart ones expect it happen again every 59 days.
13900: Akath 35
This is not the only staircase. One to east and one to west also found. They also appeared on Thatthil 51. They have similar chambers with moving gears, but they each have a different drune. The smart ones have the to look at those.
13900: Akath 79
As predicted, gears cracked again. Once around dawn and around dusk.
13901: Totmon 26
Smart ones returned from the west. Something big happened there on Akath 79. With crack of dawn, the circle rising in gear chamber lit up with orange light. Then metal creatures suddenly appeared and roamed around. A few knew our tongue and spoke with smart ones. They were from another world and invited smart ones to return with them. Some agreed, some stayed. Before crack of dusk, they went back through their gate.
Smart ones believe a gate opens at every large "tick" of the gears, but at different place each time. they expect a gate here to open on Isram 76.
13901: Totmon 48
Gears ticked again
13901: Totmon 61
With much discussion with family and village, I decided to follow metal creatures into their world if they offer again. Many of villagers will too.
13901: Isram 17
Gears ticked again
13901: Isram 35
Another staircase found to south. Smart ones claim its gate already opened and closed. They don't know if it will open again.
13901: Isram 76
It is almost dawn. My family are waiting here for gate to open and metal creatures to show. Thirty others and a smart one also here wanting through. Now we just wait.
Daeder Marsh
Maidrial Heights
On 13901 Akath 73 A.Dw., an inhabitant of the ruins within Maidrial Heights awaited for a "door" to open.
On 1 Mirtul 855, VASTL followed a lead given to them by Liandryn Quimaris and explored ruins within western Maidrial Heights. Therein, they discovered artifacts and writings from the ancient Dwarven Empire. They also found active Metalloid creatures, a clock-like set of runic gears, a massive chamber full of loud spinning cogs, and the ancient map.
Old Dwarven LetterMystthiel,
I know not you shall read this, yet if you be here, I wish for you to know. Today the door is become open as was known and we not wait. If you now decide to follow, known are the other doors will open until cycle is done for a long time. Find way to them previous too late. I hope see you again.
Krah shall serve The Prime.
The Prime shall serve Krah.
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