Post by Lorpius Prime on Mar 8, 2011 7:43:08 GMT -5
There are innumerable objects and devices floating around the galaxy which have been labeled as "precursor" in origin. In most cases, the claim is rubbish. Those which are not outright frauds are usually relics of ancient but known cultures whose technology has been lost. Nox relics are particularly well-known within the Integrated Systems for their exotic and mysterious properties, but they are not alone. The Thyssians, Lremba, and Gromites were all highly advanced species obliterated by the first Empire of Man whose only legacy are poorly understood scraps of machinery. Even the pre-Empire humans are rumored to have had technology well beyond the means of modern IS factories to replicate.
Once all the impostors have been weeded out by the more educated scholars, however, there remain quite a few items with wondrous powers and mysterious origin. Only in these cases, does the "precursor" label truly stick. Even so, one must be cautious, and not assume too much from the title. It remains unknown whether the "precursors" were a single species or civilization responsible for all the relics bearing their name.
Still, there do seem to be a few common threads which bring together many "precursor" items. For example, almost all precursor artifacts seem to lack moving parts. The exception, of course, being hyperdrives and their factories. Apart from these cases, precursor artifacts all seem to be solid pieces constructed from a single material; yet many still perform rather dramatic functions.
A second characteristic uniting many precursor devices is the involvement, in some way, of the element iron. The largest single input component for hyperdrive factories is roughly a thousand kilograms of iron, while hyperdrives themselves consume bars of iron during each use. Most precursor sound charms are activated by contact with iron, as are some classes of other precursor charms. Iron placed inside the Pit of Torvid Rhee is transmuted into a near-equivalent mass of water and boron. The original shell of Carthage Station is constructed of approximately 40% iron.
The following is a non-comprehensive list of known and common artifacts which have been identified as "precursor" relics.
Sound Charms
Small objects, usually around the size of a human thumb, but sometimes as large as a fist, of various shape. All known examples appear to be made of a dark, polished material, resembling obsidian or other stone, but are impervious to damage by anything short of antimatter. Most are activated by contact with iron, but a few examples respond to any sharp strike with or against solid objects. When activated, sound charms vibrate to emit a brief sound, as their name implies. Some charms produce an identical noise with every activation, while others vary (though most scholars agree that the sounds are always at least 'similar').
With one exception, the charms do not seem to emit any sort of "intelligible" sound, merely second-long bursts of random noise. The exception is a sound charm first noted in the possession of a Duke of the Brouda family during the second Empire and now on display in a Brouda museum. When activated, this charm seems to speak in clear Stenovian, saying: "I am a fighting algorithm."
Hundreds of unique sound charms have been identified in official records. Likely hundreds more are in existence, but circulating out of public notice.
Light Charms, Type 1
Type 1 light charms are the more common light charms, and are only slightly harder to find than precursor sound charms. Most major museums in the Integrated Systems have at least one Type 1 light charm on display.
All known examples appear to be 5 centimeter transparent cubes. Their appearance and weight is comparable to common window glass; though they are, of course, nearly indestructible.
Type 1 charms are known for their property of an internal speed of light higher than that in a vacuum, though the difference is only a small fraction of a percent.
Light Charms, Type 2
Type 2 light charms are rarer, only a few dozen are known to exist within the IS. Most of these were found in a single copper box looted from the ruins of the Gromite homeworld. Some scholars have speculated that the box itself may have been a precursor artifact, though no fantastic properties were recorded, and the object has since been lost.
All known Type 2 light charms appear to be small, rounded stones or coins, made of the same sort of black material as precursor sound charms. When struck against iron, the charms glow, emitting light at a single wavelength within the visible spectrum. The charms are many different colors, but each one always the same every time it is activated. The glow usually lasts about 20 seconds before fading, but this varies slightly depending upon the force of the strike.
Perhaps more interesting is a second property of Type 2 light charms. All charms, when activated, develop a sort of kinetic connection to the bit of iron which was used, and which lasts as long as the charm's glow. For the duration of activation period, any movement of the triggering object will be followed by the charm; so if one lifts a trigger, the glowing charm will also be lifted. This connection is weak and the charm may still be moved independent of the trigger. The result is that a charm struck against an iron surface may be placed in the air above, and it will hover for the 20 seconds of its glow before falling. The connection seems to be unaffected by gravity, but any other force stronger than a slight breeze will move the charm. Nor does the mass of the charm seem to affect the trigger object if it is moved while connected.
Once all the impostors have been weeded out by the more educated scholars, however, there remain quite a few items with wondrous powers and mysterious origin. Only in these cases, does the "precursor" label truly stick. Even so, one must be cautious, and not assume too much from the title. It remains unknown whether the "precursors" were a single species or civilization responsible for all the relics bearing their name.
Still, there do seem to be a few common threads which bring together many "precursor" items. For example, almost all precursor artifacts seem to lack moving parts. The exception, of course, being hyperdrives and their factories. Apart from these cases, precursor artifacts all seem to be solid pieces constructed from a single material; yet many still perform rather dramatic functions.
A second characteristic uniting many precursor devices is the involvement, in some way, of the element iron. The largest single input component for hyperdrive factories is roughly a thousand kilograms of iron, while hyperdrives themselves consume bars of iron during each use. Most precursor sound charms are activated by contact with iron, as are some classes of other precursor charms. Iron placed inside the Pit of Torvid Rhee is transmuted into a near-equivalent mass of water and boron. The original shell of Carthage Station is constructed of approximately 40% iron.
The following is a non-comprehensive list of known and common artifacts which have been identified as "precursor" relics.
Sound Charms
Small objects, usually around the size of a human thumb, but sometimes as large as a fist, of various shape. All known examples appear to be made of a dark, polished material, resembling obsidian or other stone, but are impervious to damage by anything short of antimatter. Most are activated by contact with iron, but a few examples respond to any sharp strike with or against solid objects. When activated, sound charms vibrate to emit a brief sound, as their name implies. Some charms produce an identical noise with every activation, while others vary (though most scholars agree that the sounds are always at least 'similar').
With one exception, the charms do not seem to emit any sort of "intelligible" sound, merely second-long bursts of random noise. The exception is a sound charm first noted in the possession of a Duke of the Brouda family during the second Empire and now on display in a Brouda museum. When activated, this charm seems to speak in clear Stenovian, saying: "I am a fighting algorithm."
Hundreds of unique sound charms have been identified in official records. Likely hundreds more are in existence, but circulating out of public notice.
Light Charms, Type 1
Type 1 light charms are the more common light charms, and are only slightly harder to find than precursor sound charms. Most major museums in the Integrated Systems have at least one Type 1 light charm on display.
All known examples appear to be 5 centimeter transparent cubes. Their appearance and weight is comparable to common window glass; though they are, of course, nearly indestructible.
Type 1 charms are known for their property of an internal speed of light higher than that in a vacuum, though the difference is only a small fraction of a percent.
Light Charms, Type 2
Type 2 light charms are rarer, only a few dozen are known to exist within the IS. Most of these were found in a single copper box looted from the ruins of the Gromite homeworld. Some scholars have speculated that the box itself may have been a precursor artifact, though no fantastic properties were recorded, and the object has since been lost.
All known Type 2 light charms appear to be small, rounded stones or coins, made of the same sort of black material as precursor sound charms. When struck against iron, the charms glow, emitting light at a single wavelength within the visible spectrum. The charms are many different colors, but each one always the same every time it is activated. The glow usually lasts about 20 seconds before fading, but this varies slightly depending upon the force of the strike.
Perhaps more interesting is a second property of Type 2 light charms. All charms, when activated, develop a sort of kinetic connection to the bit of iron which was used, and which lasts as long as the charm's glow. For the duration of activation period, any movement of the triggering object will be followed by the charm; so if one lifts a trigger, the glowing charm will also be lifted. This connection is weak and the charm may still be moved independent of the trigger. The result is that a charm struck against an iron surface may be placed in the air above, and it will hover for the 20 seconds of its glow before falling. The connection seems to be unaffected by gravity, but any other force stronger than a slight breeze will move the charm. Nor does the mass of the charm seem to affect the trigger object if it is moved while connected.