The Mechanical Era



22nd of Heinz, 5018.

The bright yellow sun, which provided the realm with its yellow-golden light, was partially blocked by the dark grey clouds above the sky. Wandering around the thick, cold forest, were 5 men dripped out in cloaks and furry coats to keep themselves warm. 

Almost their entire skin was covered in clothing as they tugged through the snow-laden forest. Their hands were fitted with woolen gloves, their feet adorned with tall leather boots, and their faces shielded by goggles and scarves. 

These men were skilled in survival and navigation and were trusted by Assistant Minister Alan Fleck. They were to find a suitable location for the super-secret testing facility, disguised as a 'temporary base for military exercise in harsh winter conditions.' 

Equipped with a detailed list of criteria handed to them, the explorers evacuated each potential site they encountered. They looked for areas with an abundance of space along with sufficient natural barriers to conceal the activities from prying eyes. 

As they ventured deeper inward, the wind whispered through the towering pines, and the crunching of snow beneath their boots echoed through the silent winter landscape. Their heightened senses, once they have horned thought-out a lifetime of experience, pick up unusual movement from the north and the east. 

"Halt!' Captain Eamon spoke. He was the leader of the expedition. Though a 50-year-old man, his muscles were still as strong as ever, and his senses we still sharper than the rest. 

"You hear that?" he asked. The team listened in very carefully. The rest of the team soon hears the odd movement. Captain Eamon instructed his team to crouch and take cover behind the dense cover of trees. They then silently moved forward in the direction where the noise can from.

As the explorers cautiously approached the source of the unusual movement, their eyes darted through the dense forest, searching for any signs of danger. The crunching of snow beneath their boots was muffled, and their breaths came out as faint whispers in the frosty air.

Peering through the thick foliage, they caught a glimpse of a massive, shadowy figure moving between the trees. The outline resembled that of a bear, its powerful form lumbering through the snow-covered terrain.

"Freeze everyone! There seems to be a bear there," Eamon whispered. 

"A bear? What the fuck is a bear doing awake in the winter. Don't they hibernate during this time?" one of the explorers whispered. 

"Yea Winston. Bears do hibernate during the winter months. However..." The other takes hold and cocks his flintlock rifle, preloaded with gunpowder and a solid lead ball. He then aims his gun in the direction of the bear.

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"unless that bear is some sort of demonic beast," he stated. 

"Wait, John! Hold your fire!" Eamon whispered. 

"We cannot be sure our rifles will be able to kill that creature. You know how powerful bears are. Our best course of action is to retreat and regroup," Eamon stated.

The explorers stay silent for a minute, before nodding. The fear of being mowed down by a powerful grizzly bear managed to triumph over the curiosity to wonder why the creature was up during this time. Slowly, they began to withdraw from the vicinity of the bear. Their steps were calculated and deliberate, to ensure that they made no noise that would provoke the creature.

As they retreated, Captain Eamon whispered instructions to his team, their voices barely audible in the wintry silence. They moved backward, careful not to break twigs or disturb the snow, blending into the natural surroundings like shadows.

Once they had created a safe distance between themselves and the bear, the explorers regrouped behind a large tree. The bear was now out of their sight, providing them a sense of comfort as if they can relax now that the bear was not nearby.  Eamon took a map and examined their position, while the others discussed the strange encounter with the bear.

"How the hell was that thing still up in the winter? Was it a demon?" one asked.

"If so, we will need a DEF agent to accompany us. Maybe we should head back? Ask the hall to give us an agent?" one suggested.

"Guys, I don't think that was a demon."

"Why not?" 

"Because demons usually have those oozing eyes and are slightly larger and weirder. I think that was just... just a normal bear!"

"True... but how the hell is that thing moving around then?"

As the men argued amongst one another, Eamon listened into the conversation after pinned their position. He considered the peculiar behavior of the bear they had encountered and weighed the possibilities in his mind. He was sure that it was a demon unless something else was going around.

"It's unusual, I'll admit," Eamon finally spoke, breaking his silence.

"But let's not jump to conclusions just yet. We need more information before we make any assumptions." The rest of the team nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in Eamon's words.

"We should report this encounter to Assistant Minister Alan Fleck," Winston suggested again. 

"He may be able to get someone with the insight or information that can help us understand what we witnessed."

"That is true. However, we cannot leave this area yet."

"Why not?"

"We still have to find the area for the minister. We should explore this area a little bit more before we leave," Eamon stated.

"We'll proceed with caution," Eamon declared, his voice firm and resolute.

"But we won't let this encounter deter us from our objective. There may be something significant about this place that we're yet to uncover. Do you all understand me?"  The explorers nodded.

"Good. Let's go. Follow me. There is this area we haven't been able to investigate yet," he stated. The men started following Eamon. As they ventured deeper into the forest, they kept a watchful eye for any signs of danger or further peculiarities. So far, the forest seems quiet.

Hours turned into days as the explorers scoured the area, examining every potential site aligned with their criteria. They fought some demons, crossed frozen streams, and traversed dense thickets, their perseverance unwavering. Yet despite all their efforts, it did not yield satisfactory results

26th of Heinz, 5018.

4 days had managed to slip from the explorer's hands. Though the sky was clearer, and the area much brighter, they were struggling to continue as they were starting to face shortages of food, water, and basic materials. The men were feeling frustrated, as Captain Eamon's strict discipline and determination began to test their limits. The initial excitement had waned, replaced by fatigue and the weight of their mission.

"Captain Eamon, we've been searching for days, and we still haven't found a suitable location," one of the explorers said, frustration evident in his voice.

"I understand your concern," Eamon replied, his tone steady. "But we must remain patient and persistent. Our mission is of utmost importance, and finding the right site is crucial to its success."

"But Captain, we've explored every inch of this area. There's simply nowhere else to look," another explorer chimed in.

Eamon paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the map in his hands. They had managed to cover a significant portion of the map and record their finding in the books they kept with them at all times. He then turned his gaze to look upon his team, whose exhaustion was etched on their faces. 

"How much do we have left?" Eamon questioned, asking about the supplies.

"Not much, sir. We could continue for about 12 hours more before we run out. I think we should head to a town, and begin the search again later," he announced. The men collectively sighed in relief, glad and blissful that Eamon finally caved into their desires. 

"Hey, before we go, may I take a leak? I kind of need to go," Winston stated.

"Sure, just don't take too long," Eamon replied. Winston walks away from the group, leaving the rest to talk to one another about the whole experience. 

"Welp, that was a waste of time." one stated.

"Aw come on. It was not all that bad. We managed to map out this unexplored area," another added.

"Yeah, I guess. However, we are still going to have to explore the other regions as well. Do we need the area to get all the criteria right?" one asked.

"If we did, we would all get paid significantly more," Eamon replied. Winston soon comes running back to the team. The men lift their gear and start forming a collum.

"Alright everyone, let's go."

"Wait!" Winston spoke. The explorers immediately stopped marching, perplexed at what Winston was on about. 

"What is it, Winston?" Eamon queried the explorer. 

"I found something! Some kind of structure! I was taking a piss when I saw this gigantic stone structure just... settled in the middle of the forest!" he claimed.

The others find him hard to believe. They were a bit skeptical of Winston, considering they had explored this region for days without spotting anything out of the ordinary. Yet, the prospect of stumbling upon a hidden structure in the middle of the forest was intriguing.

"Are you certain about what you saw, Winston?" Eamon asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"I swear on my life, Captain. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. A massive stone structure, hidden amidst the trees," Winston replied, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

"Can you take us there?" he asked.

"Absolutely! I know where it is," Winston replied.

"Alright then. Lead the way, Winston. Take us to this hidden structure." Eamon instructed.