The Unexplored Places

'Twas the night before Christmas and at the North Pole each elf and each reindeer was playing their role in the last preparations before the big flight of the sleigh and the presents and Santa tonight...

In this year's Unexplored Places Christmas Spectacular, we bring you a daring adventure to save Christmas in HOLLYTECH & JOLLYMANCY, a preview to our new bimonthly Patreon series of wild and wonderful one-shots, PLACES & PATRONS.

support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unexploredcast

editing and music by Andrew: https://andrewperricone.bandcamp.com/ Hollytech & Jollymancy by Alice Lily Kyra: https://magical-girl-kyra.itch.io/hollytech-jollymancy

[ ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION, RECOVERED FROM SCRUBBED AND DELETED DATA FROM THE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS LOG OF MARTINET COMMANDER FLETCHER SONG, RECEIVED COMMUNICATIONS, COMMUNICATION ORIGIN CORRUPTED, SEND DATA CORRUPTED, METADATA UNRECOVERABLE ]

Well? Is that a "yes?" You gotta give me something to work with here, man. -W

This week, on Tango Sector: In search of evidence to clear the Gravesent's name, half the crew boards the Martinet dreadnought Eclipse to find out who is really behind the murder of four high-ranking Martinet officials. Liam dons his favorite disguise. Melas does some quick video analysis. Flux notices something suspicious outside.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unexploredcast Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/unexploredcast Art by Julianne Stone: https://twitter.com/Juli_Aria Music by Andrew: https://andrewperricone.bandcamp.com/

[ excerpted from the private correspondences of Dr. Olivia Key ]

The problem is that without a catalyst, there's nothing more we can do from here. There's no next step. And we've run low on potential catalysts. Everything else we have tried has done something, but none of it has had the intended effect. If we're to find an alteration that will truly make immortality possible, well… yes, I realize it's quite a lot of trouble, but having someone who actually appears to be, for all intents and purposes, immortal certainly feels like an obvious fucking solution. It's just my rotten damn luck that a whole crew of pirates somehow gained immortality and yet only one of them has standard human DNA.

Just… just keep them on the run long enough that they tire out and we'll be able to apprehend them again. Kill the others for all I care. And that other crew, the one that keeps showing up to help them… well, I'll figure something else out to get them out of the way.

This week, on Tango Sector: Aboard the Court in Apogee, the crew is finally ready to make their attempt to get an audience with the Queen when an unexpected setback throws things into chaos. Cash orders a drink. Claus gets caught up. Serant steps in.

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[ FROM THE ARCHIVES OF "HERALD," INTERNAL PRIVATE MESSAGING SYSTEM OF THE COURT IN APOGEE ]

TO:THE MARQUIS OF SWORDSFROM: VISCOUNTESS SPLENDID FAIRYWREN

alert alert he's back and he's worse than ever

TO: VISCOUNTESS SPLENDID FAIRYWRENFROM: THE MARQUIS OF SWORDS

nooooo I thought he wasn't going to be back for another month ⚔️️

TO: VISCOUNTESS SPLENDID FAIRYWRENFROM: THE MARQUIS OF SWORDS

so much for court being bearable again can you take me with you when you leave this time just so I don't have to see his smug face while I walk down the hallway ⚔️️

TO:THE MARQUIS OF SWORDSFROM: VISCOUNTESS SPLENDID FAIRYWREN

do you think he's going to try to come to your party again this time or has he gotten the message

TO: VISCOUNTESS SPLENDID FAIRYWRENFROM: THE MARQUIS OF SWORDS

wow I'm cancelling immediately, rip ⚔️️

This week, on Tango Sector: Aboard the Ilian Court in Apogee, the crew is introduced to a target they'll need to convince to get them an audience with the High Queen, and invited to a party where they'll be able to do just that. Cash dishes out some much-needed fashion advice. Claus gathers information from a strange new friend. Serant meets up with someone from home.

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[ ILIAN ROYAL ARCHIVES : A ROYAL PROCLAMATION GIVEN IN THE YEAR 14 OF THE REIGN OF HER VERY MAJESTY THE HIGH QUEEN MYRIAD HELOISE ]

Yes, Ilia, our people have long since taken to the stars; yes, we have seen the universe far and wide beyond the Great Curtain of our Luminous Skies. Yes, we have found friendships and allegiances and loves outside our Great and Sheltered Homeland. But it is our not the happenstance of our geography that makes us Ilians. No, no birthright or proximity will buy our loyalty, no proclamation of false unity will seal our allegiance against our better interest. It is not our place on this planet or in the light of our Unseen Star that ties us together. It is the love of our home that makes us Ilians. It is our connections with those people around us, those who have given us our names and our titles, those we have chosen to live out our life with. And whosoever would be an Ilian, will be an Ilian. Whosoever would seek friendship here, or family here, or love here, whosoever would seek refuge here, Ilia's Glorious Curtained Sky will grant it. For this is what it means to be Ilian; this is what it has always meant, since the first Kings and Queens made this strange and beautiful place their home. And this is what it shall mean, for as long as this very world keeps spinning in its Perfect Orbit, and the Court in Apogee

This week, on Tango Sector: On their way to the Court in Apogee to seek an audience with High Queen Myriad Heloise of the Royal Family of Ilia, the crew runs into some unexpected interference. Claus dodges another bullet. Serant turns up the heat. Cash makes a call to a friend.

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INTERNAL MEMO #96735TERMINUS NEWS NETWORK OFFICEMEMO: Permission & Restrictions for External Guests

Dear all,

It has recently come to my attention that, on more than one occasion in the past several weeks, a staff member has invited a guest into the Culture & Arts Council building while bypassing security checks at the front desk, allowing at least one guest without clearance into the building for some period of time. Because of this, we must kindly request all of you to take several minutes today to review section 16-B-ii of the employee handbook, regarding Permission and Restrictions for External Guests, and ensure that you are following the guidelines laid out therein.

Culture & Arts Council guidelines and restrictions for guests are designed as they are for a reason: Terminus News Network often deals with highly classified information, and leaks of any of this information are a detriment not only to Culture & Arts Council personally, but to the Sector as a whole. Much is happening throughout the Sector on any given day, and we here at Terminus News Network are the vanguard working to introduce news to the Sector at large in the best possible way. I would hate to know that anyone here had any hand, intentionally or unintentionally, in undermining that mission.

Please remember that we are a team, and when one team member takes an unnecessary risk, it harms everyone on the team. Not only that, it stands to harm everyone in the Sector.

This week, on Tango Sector: Following up on a call for help from the Gravesent, the crew of Pelagian finds themselves in a strange new location, and struggles to put together a plan. Melas gets a running start. Claus and Flux follow behind. Liam calls up a contact for help. Cash has their cake and eats it too.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unexploredcast Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/unexploredcast Art by Julianne Stone: https://twitter.com/Juli_Aria Music by Andrew: https://andrewperricone.bandcamp.com/

QUERY: [[ VISTA CITY // CHANDRA // ADEYEMI SYSTEM ]]

… RETURNING QUERY RESULTS FROM ""TL-TRU HOSPITALITY DATABASE"" …

IN THE TEMPERATE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OF CHANDRA, VISTA CITY IS A SEASIDE TOURIST DESTINATION, WITH BEAUTIFUL BEACHES KEPT CLEAN BY A FLEET OF THE HIGHEST TECH CLEANING BOTS, SPRAWLING HOTEL COMPLEXES TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME IN THIS SEASIDE PARADISE, AND A BUSTLING BOARDWALK FULL OF FUN ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

A MORE AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE LUXURIOUS PRIVATE BEACHES OF THEMIS, VISTA CITY DRAWS VISITORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR VACATIONERS OF ALL SORTS. WHETHER IT'S SUNBATHING UNDER THE CLOUDLESS SKY, GOING FOR A SWIM IN THE WARM OCEAN WATERS, OR VISITING ONE OF THE MANY FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES ON AND AROUND THE BOARDWALK, THOSE WHO VISIT VISTA CITY WILL ONLY EVER FIND THEMSELVES BORED IF BOREDOM IS WHAT THEY CRAVE.

This week, on Tango Sector: After narrowly escaping with the Remnant artifact they were sent to retrieve, the crew of Pelagian deals with the fallout in seaside Vista City. Claus makes an outing. Serant makes inquiries into some new gear. Cash makes some phone calls. Flux considers some ramifications. Liam is faced with some unpleasant reminders. An unexpected familiar face makes an appearance after a long absence.

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[ BLACKFORD & DESAI BRAMBLE-CLASS RESEARCH VESSEL LORELAI // REMOTE ACCESS LABORATORY ARCHIVES // DECK 1, LAB 7 // PROJECT CODE P9821, CODENAME ASCALON ]

SUBJECT HAS RESPONDED NEGATIVELY TO [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] ON INITIAL TESTS, BUT ELECTROMAGNETIC READINGS INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY OF INITIATING A POSITIVE RESPONSE IN THE CASE OF [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ].

[ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] HYPOTHESIS ALLOWS FOR [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ]. THE COMBINATION OF [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF ACHIEVING POSITIVE RESPONSE IN A WIDER VARIETY OF CONDITIONS. REGULAR MONITORING INITIATED WHILE WE BEGIN TO UNDERTAKE [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ].

[ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] [ ARCHIVAL DATA CORRUPTED ] CERTAIN LEVEL OF UNPREDICTABILITY IS UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS SMALL ENOUGH THAT THIS IS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

This week, on Tango Sector: Having located the Remnant artifact on the Lorelai, the crew of Pelagian makes a desperate move to escape the Martinet—and another mysterious threat lurking in the void. Claus makes a quick fix. Serant and Cash make some quick maneuvers. Flux tries out something new. Liam gets a call.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unexploredcast Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/unexploredcast Art by Julianne Stone: https://twitter.com/Juli_Aria Music by Andrew: https://andrewperricone.bandcamp.com/

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATIONS — BLACKFORD & DESAI HIGH-CLEARANCE SERVER

FROM: [email protected]: [email protected]

z—

glad to hear the test was a success. about time somebody got something useful out of one of these. if you can get here by the end of the week i think we can sync up and see if there's a plausible reaction here. from what yelena's told me of ascalon it sounds like you're well ahead of any of the rest of us so i'm looking forward to getting a look at it, hearing how you solved the interference problem.

let me know when you expect to get in. i'll roll out the red carpet for you.

omega blue

This week, on Tango Sector: Aboard the wreck of the Blackford & Desai research vessel the Lorelai, the crew of Pelagian rushes to find the Remnant artifact they've been sent to collect before reinforcements arrive. Serant finds a path forward. Liam clears the way. Cash and Claus try to calm some nerves. Flux has an unexpected encounter.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unexploredcast Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/unexploredcast Art by Julianne Stone: https://twitter.com/Juli_Aria Music by Andrew: https://andrewperricone.bandcamp.com/

[ EXCERPTED FROM THE FIELD NOTES OF ADLER KASSNER, REMNANT SPECIALIST AND PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE TERMINUS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, ON SABBATICAL TO CHANDRA ]

What's most interesting about the Remnants on Chandra is, in fact, the pattern of them. Their distribution. Chandra is popularly known as having one of the highest concentration of Remnant artifacts in the Sector, and certainly is the source of the bulk of currently sentient (ie., awakened) Remnants we see in our day to day lives. However, large swathes of Chandra's surface are, in essence, Remnant-less.

According to some of the locals, there's some… we'll call them a religious organization, here on Chandra, who believe that there is a reason for that. A pattern, to the distribution, with some sort of greater meaning behind it, something… suspiciously mystical, one might guess. How they claim to have this information, I can't yet say, but I find myself skeptical at best about the idea. I've scoured the maps, myself, every logged Remnant artifact found on Chanda, the areas of high density vs. low density, even the organization of individual Remnants within those areas of high density, and there is no discernible pattern, at least that I can see. Not to mention how little research has been done, due to all the restrictions in place, on whether or not there are Remnant artifacts beneath Chandra's oceans which, if there are any there, and there is a pattern, would potentially throw off the pattern these people seem to believe exists entirely.

Or… complete it?

Surely not. Surely there's some logical fallacy to the belief that any pattern that might exist with the Remnants that have been found would not exist for perfectly explainable reasons. A higher density of Remnant artifacts in what once might have been a city, for example, and a relative dearth on land that might have been primarily unoccupied, or otherwise rendered inhospitable. I would argue that if there is a pattern, it says more about the society of the beings who happened to have made them then it does about some "grand design…"

This week, on Tango Sector: Following a distress beacon from a member of the Chosen of the Sacral Hollow in pursuit of a stolen Remnant artifact, the crew of Pelagian takes on a mysterious mission that may be more dangerous than it seems. Flux scans the area. Claus searches for answers. Cash runs into some unpleasant feedback. Serant gets distracted. Liam has some suit trouble.

CONTENT WARNING: vocal and audio distortion

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