The Blasphemer
APOPTOSIA
Intent: A submission for the WROTP contest, prompt #1; to create a gigeresque graveyard ring around a star.
Image credit: Deviantart
Additional images for flavor: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
Canon: N/A
Permissions: N/A
Links: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Midi-chlorian
Astronomical location name: Apoptosia
Classification: Megastructure
Location: Outer Rim, near Kinooine
Rotational period: N/A
Orbital period: N/A
Size: Massive
Affiliation: None
Population: Uninhabited
Demographics: N/A
Accessibility: This strange ring-like construction is on the fringes of the galaxy, in the Outer Rim, past the South-Western endpoints of both the Hydian Way and the Corellian Trade spine; specifically located around an unnamed sun belonging to Kinooine’s stellar neighbourhood. Approximately five days of sublight speed travel is required past the last hyperlane exit to access this remote marvel.
Description: Apoptosia, colloquially referred to as The Corpse Ring is an artificial planetary ring constructed of various types of mineraloid matter, metals and fossilized organic elements. It is devoid of all life. Located around a star near Kinooine, this amalgamation is a primordial, peculiar, seemingly illogical waste of energy, since at face value it simply appears to be a gargantuan, bizarre graveyard of an unknown civilization. Vague recreations of ancient, eclectic architecture dot the landscape, yet these copies of buildings and dreamlike infrastructure could never serve as functional habitats for organics. It rather appears as if someone, or something, had tried to recreate the architecture of those that came before, but failed miserably, resulting in a surreal scenery that feels like it is half-finished, or misunderstood. The ring consists of two major sections that rest upon asteroid cores according to preliminary scans. A deep sense of dread permeates the entire ring.
The Hollow Tomb: The entire planetary ring itself rests on multiple separate asteroids that at various points in the history of its construction had been captured and carved down into oblong shapes by the unknown civilization that presumably lived on it; evidenced by the fact that building-like structures can also be found scattered around its otherwise vast, continuous plains. These two structurally distinguishable semi-circle sections are linked together by enormous metallic wires. The two major sections came to be referred to as “tombs,” the more notable of which being the Hollow Tomb. As with the second tomb, the surface of The Hollow Tomb is also densely littered with grotesque, anthropomorphic statues seemingly melted into the metallic upper crust, half-built altars, gigantic monoliths and city-sized temple-like buildings laid out in various patterns. One swath of surface area may be packed with nothing but bizarre statues made of bedrock – usually presented in sitting, eerily morose positions – while another may be an impenetrable series of ancient, sharp fences, metal slabs, winding paths and peculiar, spiritualistic symbolism. It is common to see random metallic limbs sticking out of the metal flooring, holding perfectly round spheres of varying sizes. According to orbital scans, this particular tomb is mostly hollowed out; therefore, its gravity’s grasp is lighter on the common sentient. Cave-like gaping holes in the cold leaden surface structure lead down into even more catacomb-like vistas that hold dangerous traps and maybe even valuable treasures; randomly opening sinkholes, moving walls and gravity-shifts are a common occurrence. In some rooms one may even find atmosphere. Scientists rarely have a chance to study this phenomenon, as the interconnected catacombs are more akin to a twisting maze than an organized city. The deeper one traverses, the more chance they have at witnessing the extremely rare murals that seem to tell the dark tale of the host civilization’s downfall. The endless catacombs often have halls and corridors with surreal geometry that lead nowhere. The mostly gothic, graveyard-like symbolism is the only recurring theme regardless of where or how deep one ventures into the general structure. Blank tombstones are everywhere. The walls slide and shift constantly, probably along mechanical rails. Where there was an exit before, there may never be again. What physics or machines facilitate these movements is also unknown, but speculations include it being powered by the host star’s gravitational forces or unbelievably precise inertia-based mechanics once launched and continuing ad infinitum. These theorized primal engines, if they even exist, are probably hidden in the deepest reaches of the Hollow Tomb. More radical thinkers believe that the ring itself may even be alive, but no scientific evidence has been presented so far to substantiate that claim.
The Phantom Tomb: The second section of the Corpse Ring also bears all the overarching characteristics that are distinctive of Apoptosia. Half-industrial, half-gothic, yet at the same time bearing unreasonably organic tonality, this Tomb is also a macabre sight to behold. Yet the most prominent distinction between the two is that the Phantom Tomb is covered with a featureless, simplistic, metallic outer layer that has regularly appearing openings that allow entire ships to land inside its massive structure. Beneath this megalophobic roof and within the primordial darkness however one is presented with yet another mystery; breathable atmosphere. Otherwise, the landscape beneath the roof is much more monotonous than on the other, more ornate side of the ring. Enormous, barren, metallic sheets are laid out as far as one can see, only interrupted by the occasional tombstones, statues and island-sized pools of liquid mercury. More interesting are the circular “gates” (more specifically gated holes in the greyish alloy metal floor) that lead deeper into its core. These circular two-part entrances are described as black slider gates, and any flashlight’s rays barely reflect off of their blood-like glazes. At the center of each gate is a maroon orb half-embedded into it that glows red when it detects Force-sensitive beings nearby; and indeed, Force-users need only touch the orb to open the gate. It is likely some sort of old, mysterious midichlorian detector. Initial explorers with no Force-affinity have quickly discovered, however, that coating the orb with one’s own blood also opens the gates, regardless of Force aptitude. What happens beyond the gates might be the most difficult thing to describe; a non-government research group has shared the collection of reports they have gathered from individuals who have braved the unknown depths and subsequently agreed to follow-up interviews. Some patterns have been observed repeatedly, while others are unique for each group or individual. All who lower themselves into the dark abyss beyond the gate describe a shift from reality immediately upon reaching solid ground; some groups have found themselves upon narrow bridges suspended in nothingness, others saw waterfalls flowing upward, a beam of light illuminating them from above, or other abrupt, drastic changes in environment. Reported experiences include witnessing the gradual bending of space and time, flashes of horrific scenes often depicting cataclysmic events, the inability to recognize facial features, but one detail that comes up with each story is the time at the end of one’s journey; when people meet themselves – or at least illusory strangers that look like their exact replicas. A few have theorized that this Tomb might be an ancient gauntlet of sorts, aimed to explore the self and the mind. Many just attribute it to mass psychosis. There have been no reports of death so far, but only a handful of people have accessed this Tomb as of the year of Apoptosia’s discovery. In all cases, people have simply reported finding themselves outside the gates shortly after the conclusion of their meeting - or battle - with themselves.
// OOC Note //
An idea: you may indulge in deep conversations with your character's subconscious, or groups may take control of each other's effigies as NPCs and fight each other in creative ways. In the end, these effigies are just hallucinations, they may die, or perhaps if you wish to kill off your character, your character may also die. Choose your destiny, flawless victory, Mortal Kombat!
An idea: you may indulge in deep conversations with your character's subconscious, or groups may take control of each other's effigies as NPCs and fight each other in creative ways. In the end, these effigies are just hallucinations, they may die, or perhaps if you wish to kill off your character, your character may also die. Choose your destiny, flawless victory, Mortal Kombat!
Apoptosia had only recently caught the attention of astrographers and explorers due to a sudden, massive shift in its host star’s previously prodigious radiation output. Only following this baffling, unexplained event did the solid ring become even detectable with our modern equipment.
Based on the minimal historical data that could be extrapolated from the scarce signs of a previous civilization on the megastructure’s surface, Apoptosia could once have been constructed by one of the galaxy’s earliest sentients, the story of whom vanished in what most believe was a cataclysmic, ring-wide extinction event. The rare, hidden murals found deep inside of the catacombs of The Hollow Tomb held the first clues that allowed for hypotheses to be formulated. Two recurring themes are depictions of dead masses and humanoids surrounded by floating orbs of varying sizes. Combined with the fact that the Hollow Tomb’s surface is a mixture of half-built, oversized architecture, gigantic tombs, spiritual symbolism and anthropomorphic statues, the most popular theory among archeologists is that the civilization might have been wiped out by some sort of sentient, microscopic life-form that consumed them in its process of awakening into consciousness.
If we consider the possibility that this miniscule lifeform depicted on the murals could perhaps manipulate matter around it, it would answer why one Tomb is overcharged with spiritual symbolism and in practice appears like a colossal necropolis, and the other Tomb subjects its occupants to hallucinations that revolve around what most believe is a vague understanding of an afterlife.
Perhaps the primordial civilization that created the ring had designed this lifeform, and perhaps the lifeform had regretted its actions, and as it slowly withered away throughout the eons, it reminisced about its creators and attempted to erect bizarre structures in their memory. Perhaps in its failed quest to recreate what it thought was a resting place for its creators, it birthed this bizarre graveyard of a planetary ring. Some believe it might have been a midichlorian-based life form due to the peculiar gate-orbs’ Force sensitivity check on The Phantom Tomb, others believe it was a swarm of nano-machines. Two things are certain. These aforementioned murals are a misunderstood attempt at communication, and that no organic traces or signs of nano-machines have so far been detected on the ring itself.
The full history of Apoptosia remains a mystery and is yet to be explored.
Last edited:
