A visit to the Head
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A visit to the Head
Part of the treasure hunt, of course ... I'm expecting Harvey to reply ... I hope.Andreas the Wise stood outside the old Apollo Foundation building. He cast his mind back into ages past, in the glory days of the Apollo Foundation. Then it had held sway over swathes of ancient land, protecting the key province of Audentior, the Flying Islands of Jasonia, and myriad other lands. He could barely imagine it ... a thousand million historians living, breathing, preserving old lands, keeping history alive for when it was needed, in case the nationalistic spirit ever struck the descendants of those fallen empires, and they decided to start out again. Over time, their power to hold those lands without an army grew slim, and the Flying Isles fell to Aerlig, while eventually the Apollo Foundation’s key building in Audentior fell to the Republic of Antica ... or was it the Dinarchy? But still the Apollo Foundation was a powerful Micran institute, with offices in so many ancient lands, preserving their culture, and here, the greatest bastion of the institute in the ancient lands of Audentior stood tall and bright, white marble pillars and shimmering stairs leading into a vast library in one half, some information recorded electronically, still carrying the technology of ancient wonders like Jasonia, and other in book form – miles and miles of writing. And on the far side was a vast museum containing treasures from all across the micronational world, and it was always, always full of children and parents, learning, seeking, discovering.
And then interest dwindled. Donations from the governments of the world slackened. When Kildare was hit by the great plague one of the last great defenders of the Apollo Era was stripped away from funding the Apollo Foundation, and without land to support them as they once had, their operations could not continue. Still, a few historians were there to preserve, but very little was shown outside. It was an irony, perhaps, that in all his research on Jasonia he had not come here yet. But now, it seemed, he was fated to spend a long time searching through these archives, unless the Head still knew what he needed. He looked up at the old Apollo Foundation Building, a shell of it’s former glory.
Then he stopped imagining and looked at the building now – cobwebbed, dark, and eternally locked – if, when it’s land had been stripped away and it still had offices in every nation, it was a shell of its former glory, what was it now? A lingering aroma perhaps, a scent of ages past. Then, with a sigh, Andreas walked past the old Apollo Foundation Building and to a set of flats next door, proudly bearing the title “Riponian Budget Housing,†and held up the scrap of paper Scott Siskind from Shireroth had given him. 24 Ancient Street, Apartment Number 12. This was the building ...
He entered the block of cheap apartments and walked up the stairs, searching along the corridor, until he found number 12. It was made more challenging by the fact it’s 1 had lost one nail and now looked like a 5, hanging forlornly upside down, but it was there between 13 and 11, and must be the right place. He knocked smartly on the door. There was a scuffling, as if old pizza boxes were being shoved under the couch, and then the door opened an inch, held by a chain. “If it’s about those Warhammer figures I don’t have any more money ..â€Â
“I’m looking for the Head of the Apollo Institution,†Andreas interrupted. There was a surprised gasp from inside, then the door closed, the chain was removed, and the door was opened fully this time, revealing a tall, pale figure dressed in green. The Apartment wasn’t quite as messy as Andreas had expected, but it was by no means clean. This is what the Apollo Institute had been reduced to ... run part time by a young historian, a nephew of Benkern, the Dolphin Duke, and a young techie, second cousins to Dr Spangle of CIS fame. Run from their apartment next door to the original building, because Riponian OHS had declared it unstable. Well, Andreas thought, I just hope they know what I’m looking for. He was about to ask when the techie, Doc, said, “Hey, I know you, you’re some President dude.â€Â
“You are correct, I’m the President of the Confederation of Gralus,†Andreas replied. “And also an avid magical historian, and I need some information on the Flying Islands of Jasonia.
“Looks like you’ve come to the right place,†Vilhelm, the historian, replied. “I’ll get the keys.â€Â
Twenty minutes and a summoning charm later (they’d been lost under the pile of pizza boxes under the couch), Vilhelm was unlocking the large metal doors to the Apollo Institute. Inside it was dark and very, very dusty, but otherwise ... a historians dream. There was shelves upon shelves upon shelves of books stretching up five stories, and in the distance there could be faintly seen another door leading, presumably, to the museum. “So, what was it exactly you wanted to know,†Vilhelm asked Andreas.
The doors slammed shut behind them, as if blown by an unknown breeze. Andreas leaned close to Vilhelm and whispered, “It’s a secret. But did the old head of the Apollo Institution pass anything onto you about Jasonia ...â€Â
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
- Colonel Vilhelm
- Apollo Foundation Administrator
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Very good. Your depiction of the Foundation is scarily accurate - the pizza boxes do tend to pile up.
Just a quite note - not that you were in any way incorrect, just for interest - regarding the history of Audentior's lands:
- Audentior first "fell" to the Treesians as part of their Apollo Foundation-style thing... Blackrock Memorial Almshouses it was called. Yeah, meant to be a successor to the dead/defunct AF. Hah! Anywho when the Foundation was stripped of its land they took it right up.
- Flash forward to when the GC left and it's empty for a while.
- The Republic of Antica eventually claimed it, though that was nothing to do with its Apollo history... just free land between them and Shireroth which needed filling.
- Muuuuch later after the great self-imposed Antica reduction it was made free.
- Riponians eventually expanded into it, again without noticing it was former Audente territory.
Just a quite note - not that you were in any way incorrect, just for interest - regarding the history of Audentior's lands:
- Audentior first "fell" to the Treesians as part of their Apollo Foundation-style thing... Blackrock Memorial Almshouses it was called. Yeah, meant to be a successor to the dead/defunct AF. Hah! Anywho when the Foundation was stripped of its land they took it right up.
- Flash forward to when the GC left and it's empty for a while.
- The Republic of Antica eventually claimed it, though that was nothing to do with its Apollo history... just free land between them and Shireroth which needed filling.
- Muuuuch later after the great self-imposed Antica reduction it was made free.
- Riponians eventually expanded into it, again without noticing it was former Audente territory.
Colonel Vilhelm von Benkern - Preserving the Memories (Regardless of whose those may be)
Pro at Cooking!
Antica
Pro at Cooking!
Antica
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Ahh .... I knew from Antican onwards ... nice to see I got the description right ... now to await Harvey ...
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
First off, it was just sheer random luck I saw this. I was looking through my bookmarks and thought "huh, I haven't been to the MCS in a while, I wonder what's up" and here this is. So please try to keep me updated on stuff like this.
That said, all of my relevant characters to this little quest are long dead. I'm not exactly sure what you want me to contribute at this point. If you want to find some message from Jason, that's cool, I'll write things up. I'm not going to take control of your characters to do it though.
That said, all of my relevant characters to this little quest are long dead. I'm not exactly sure what you want me to contribute at this point. If you want to find some message from Jason, that's cool, I'll write things up. I'm not going to take control of your characters to do it though.
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Ah, ok ... I'll just continue then ...
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
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"Too be honest," Vilhelm answered, "the old Heads of the Apollo Foundation told me ... nothing. I'm not sure I even saw the last head - I think he died years before my time. Just Doc was here for a while, had the keys, and then I came and ... sorta took over the mess."
"Doc, did he perhaps tell you something with his dieing breath, some secret he told you to share with no mortal man, but pass on to one would come after him looking for it?" Andreas asked, a hint of hope in his voice.
"Nope," Doc replied. "His last words were just 'Get those bloody computers fixed up, and change the password from Aurora, it's too predictable!'"
"Aurora?" Andreas asked.
"Yeah, Aurora. Never heard the story?" Vilhelm asked, delighted to know something this strange man didn't. Andreas shook his head. "I thought it was common knowledge. Scott Siskind was once asking Jason Steffke about something - you know, the two famous CoD team members? Jason let slip his password was Aurora, as a joke. Scott tried to get into several government areas before realising Harvey was having a laugh at his expense, and the matter was forgotten. But we historians have long remembered the lost Aurora password, as we call it, and tried to find the right place to use it. Unfortunately, our computer system probably wasn't the best place."
"Hmmm ..." Andreas mused. "Well ... yes, I think that answers my question. Now, I must say this seriously ... there may well be people coming after me who aren't as friendly. Who might try to find out what you told me ... and then kill you so nobody else can find out."
"Are you doing something illegal, Mr Andreas?" Vilhelm asked cautiously.
"Not illegal," Andreas replied. "Just ... a bit of treasure hunting. And you know the first rule about Treasure Hunts - it doesn't matter how dangerous the quest is, how many fiendish clues you have to solve ... the greatest difficulty is the blighter who arrived just before you ..."
"And ... this is still a danger when they find out stuff from us after you?" Doc asked, confused.
"If they find out everything I do, but faster, then yes," Andreas said, slightly annoyed at where this was going. "So, I'm just saying ... you can come with me if you want. See some real history in the making, with only a slight risk of danger. Or you can stay here, with a very real risk to your life."
"Leave the Apollo Foundation? It's my home!" Doc said, and ran off, emotional.
"I should probably check he's alright," Vilhelm said nervously.
"As you will," Andreas said. "But the chance to come with me ends very soon ... thankyou for your help, Mr Vilhelm." Then Andreas turned around and walked out the door. He was going to count to ten, waiting just outside. He gave Vilhelm till seven before he rushed out begging to be taken. But at 3 Andreas realised he still had one question. Darn.
He poked his head back in the door. "Um, I feel a bit of a fool asking you this, but none of the maps of Tapfer I can find are detailed enough ... New Demesos City, where was it?"
Vilhelm let out a smile. "I can do better than tell you ... I'll come and show you. We used to have an office there, still got the keys somewhere ..."
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander