#sectarus

[ask-the-toy-box]

[dynared]

Lost in the New York Comic Con hustle and bustle including the first trailer for the Scott Pilgrim anime, Good Burger II: Do you want Good Fries with that? (Not the title but I am curious) and an Ultraman Blazar stage show that actually was filled to capacity, there was a little panel for something called the Nacelleverse, a ground up project from the Nacelle company with the goal of bringing numerous disparate franchises together.

And the panel really should have been recorded, because it was a very interesting TED Talk about how a company makes a franchise and how creatives build a shared universe from the ground up.

Seems easy enough, right? Well, the first thing they need to do is get some licenses people care about, or barring that, licenses that are available. And they got…well they got licenses.

There are a lot of moving parts in creating a universe. Finding partners in weird places, like how the Biker Mice from Mars reboot is actually a co-production with Ryan Reynolds of all people, building mythology where there was none and adapting it where there is one, and then finding a buyer for your show. For instance, while Roboforce had no real mythology and the writers built a story from the ground up (a very meta tale about a line of robots that were supposed to be the next big thing, only to be confined to menial work when a newer, superior line of robots completely upstaged their debut, which is essentially what happened to the 80s toy line when it was released opposite the Transformers). Biker Mice, meanwhile, was popular enough that people know what they were about, so in that case it’s more about bringing in the hot dog and (root) beer loving rodents and their story into the shared universe. Same with the Cowboys of Moo Mesa, a real thing that existed and even had an arcade game from Konami of all people (the game was a blatant but surprisingly playable Sunset Riders clone). Then there’s stuff like the Great Garloo, a Creature from the Black Lagoon looking guy with no story to speak of, being given the personality of a wisecracking comedian that happens to resemble the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

The panel was 10/10, would recommend to anyone the least bit interested in understanding how a franchise works. But I don’t know if that means the Nacelleverse will be the big franchise that they want it to be.

Unfortunately, while shorts and ads are online, along with the website, I don’t have the one thing that ties this whole thing together. The opening for Roboforce from Cartoon Conrad. As per their discussion, they specifically went with Conrad to make a loud, Western style opening with an opening theme song that bludgeons you over the head with the blunt end of the show’s premise.

Knowing the way these things go, by the time Biker Mice comes out and is ready to air, Hasbro will have an Energon Universe cartoon animated by Studio Trigger.

[starchild-nerites]

Nerites | Recollection #3

These are brief recollections of my past with the Orokin Empire, The Tenno, and myself… I hope they can give you a better insight into how I view our system. (Spoilers Below)

The tests that Archimedian Margulis performed upon the Tenno weren't that arduous. I was nervous, that probably what went wrong. When she... when Margulis asked to see my energy, I let out too much. I blinded her, and in the process myself.

I was all but sure that because of me the Orokin would execute all of the zariman children. But, Margulis protected them, and me. With all her might until her last breath, she nurtured each of us as if we were her own. A saint, more so than the Orokin.

It wasn't until Executor Ballas turned Margulis's work into a weapon that I was spoken to by anyone. My scores on his filthy test were so abhorrently high that I was placed as a guard to a high ranking official within the cast. Sectarus Edius.

I was led by servants to my new master. They were very wary of me but rough. They stopped me in front of Edius and forced me into a bowing position to which he responded. "Be gentle with him!" His voice was so, calming. It was not the harsh cold tone most Orokin gave.

I felt a soft, cool hand against my cheek. The Sectarus tilted my head and lifted my arms. "You look like you faint at any moment child, tell me your name." He asked calmly and I quickly responded.

Sectarus Edius asked me many questions, about my parents, about Margulis, about myself. He asked me what I wanted to do, before the Zariman incident. It was the first time in so so very long that I had an answer on the tip of my tongue. The word Biologist flew off my tongue in an instant, warranting a cheerful laugh from the Orokin.

The conversation went on for what felt like hours. I happily answered his questions. I didn't have many friends among the Tenno before, because of my accident with Margulis. Sectarus Edius himself guided me to a room where he told me to rest.

I was shaken awake by a servant who told me that the Sectarus had requested my presence. I was guided to an outdoor area where I could hear not only Sectarus but Executor Avantus as well. I could catch word of a favor being repaid just barely.

I was quickly taken by the Executors servants elsewhere. I could hear some Archimedians talking, whispering among themselves whilst I was sat in a cold chair. Then I felt a prick and I was asleep.

When I awoke before me there was a shiny warframe, the Hydroid I still use till this day.  But what threw me, was the fact that I could see it. I walked close to the frame, staring at myself. My eyes had been replaced. I quickly turned around as the door opened.

"Do you like them, young Tenno?" My new eyes met Sectarus Edius. He was radiant, almost as much as the Executors, whom I now resembled thanks to my eyes.

I thanked him profusely, I can still recall the smile on his face. That was the start of my guardianship. It grew to more of a small family over time, even the servants became akin to odd siblings.

Let's end this memory now, while it is still fond... only sadness and sorrow follow...

[Orokin text reads - My Eyes]

[warframeshorts]

Guardsman Lore

I had been stuck on this ship for so long I had almost forgotten what an Orokin of his station sounded like. I cherished each word he spoke.

“Bilsa,” Alarez’s voice pulsed out of my console, “we’re here to help but I need to get this straight; you’re being held hostage by a…”

“... by a Grineer,” I whispered.

“A Grineer?” his skepticism was palpable.

“Yes, named Veytok.”

“He has a name?”

“Won’t let me call him by anything else,” I needed him to believe me but I could tell he was struggling. “The other Grineer are different, they’re still slow but they listen to him and do exactly what he says. It must be a mutation-”

“Impossible,” I could tell he didn’t believe me. “Something like that would have been caught during production and destroyed, only the military Grineer are given-”

“Should have been caught but wasn’t,” I interrupted. “Look, the only reason I’m still alive is the genetic lockouts. I’m Sectarus class, this ship’s Cephalon listens to me exclusively. The Grineer need me. Stars, you have no idea what it’s like living with these-”

“Did you say Sectarus class?” now he was interested.

“...everything is filthy,” I was rambling. “They manufacture filth. My robes have gone from yellow to black. I’m so tired, I don’t even feel Orokin anymore.”

“Did you say you’re Sectarus class?” his voice betrayed his impatience.

“Of course, aren’t you?”

“We’re going to initiate docking,” he said.

I looked out the viewscreen, the massive Executorial Frigate begin to pivot toward our tiny Runner. Its marblesque exterior was aglow in the light of the sun. How I missed those white hallways with their perfect golden trim, all busy with Orokin of high station discussing the business of Empire. I belonged on that ship, it was my birthright.

“Stop,” I exclaimed in a half-shout, half-whisper, “you don’t understand, he’s dangerous. We’ve been raiding other ships, gathering Grineer. Stars, I’ve done things.” I could feel the emotion and fear in my voice, “I… I’ve helped him mass an army of sorts.”

“Right, a Grineer army,” he paused for a moment then took an audible breath, “Bilsa listen, whatever you’ve done, you had no choice. You know what’s happening in the system, there’s honor to be found in surviving,” he asked.

“What do you mean; ‘what’s happening in the system’?” I asked.

“The Executors, the Council, they’re all dead or missing, even most of the Sectarus is gone, you might be the last,” His voice was cracked. “Do you understand? The system’s falling apart but we can rebuild it.”

There was a thud outside the hull. Had they docked?

“What about the Tenno?”

“The betrayers?” he asked. “Hopefully gone.”

“Wait,” I asked, “are you saying your Executorial Frigate has no Sectarus class or Executor? How are you piloting?”

He ignored my question, “We’ve docked. Hurry now, open the airlock doors so we can help you.”

“It’s too dangerous,” I said, “they’re waiting for you. You’ll be slaughtered.”

“Bilsa, you have no idea what’s going on out here. Everything is in chaos. You’re lucky we found you, nobody can be trusted but I can help. Open the airlock doors.”

“I can’t, if I open those doors they’ll kill you all. Just talk to me for a while. It’s been so long.”

“Bilsa,” his voice was getting louder. “The Orokin are gone. The infrastructure, the rails, none of it works, it’s all locked out,” was he actually berating me? “The infestation is everywhere, riots...”

“...but they’ll kill you-”

Alarez cut me off, “The Moon is gone.”

“You’re not making sense Alarez,” I said.

“Nothing makes sense anymore,” he shouted. “Open those doors!”

“Alarez?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just that we don’t have much time,” he began to calm. “Where is this Veytok now?” Asked Alarez.

“All the Grineer are in the docking bay, it’s impassable...” I paused and thought for a second, “wait, there’s a different way. The emergency hatch, you could extend a maintenance tunnel, come in through the top of the ship.”

“And avoid the Grineer entirely. Now you’re thinking like a Sectarus. Are you alone right now?” asked Alarez.

“Yes. Since they saw your ship, it’s like I don’t even exist. When you get here, I’ll try to seal them in the airlock remotely. That should hold them for a while, hurry.”

I took one last look at the now grimey bridge that had become my home. I stepped onto the compact elevator that connected the Runner’s decks. At the top level was a systems room used to access the ship’s many segments. I looked up at the hatch on the ceiling when I heard the couplers whiz into place.

“Cephalon, execute now,” I called out.

“Understood, Sectarus Bilsa,” replied the ship’s Cephalon.

Moments later the hatch slid open. Dark eyes stared down at me from behind Dax’s helmet mask. He said nothing.

I addressed him, “Well met, Dax.”

Silently, the Dax scanned the room with his rifle before jumping down and taking position in front of me. In quick succession, three more guards fell in behind him. The guards were bloodied and battle scarred, their equipment mismatched and worn. Alarez followed, his symmetry was off and his eyes were dull, was he even Enginus class?

“Thank the stars you’re here.” I reached out to greet him but the Dax grabbed me.

“Hold her down,” said Alarez.

He pulled out a device which I recognized instantly as a genetic descrambler, where did he get that from?

“My apologies Bilsa, you seem sweet but I can’t miss this chance,” he threw a switch on the descrambler. “A sample of your genetic code is all I need for full access to the Executorial.” He pointed the descrambler at me. “This won’t hurt,”

My skin got instantly hot and then cooled again as waves of radiation passed through me, “Look at you all,” I said, “you’re just as tarnished as I. It’s really over isn’t it?”

“The Empire? I’m afraid so,” he lowered the descrambler, “There.”

“Will you kill me then?” I asked, my eyes fixed on the floor.

“Can’t have you outrank me,” he sighed. “But first you’ll command your Cephalon to cut off life support to the Grineer in the Runner’s airlock.”

I looked up at him, “I can’t do that.”

Alarez smiled, “Of course you can.”

“I wish I could but I already told the Cephalon to open the airlock. They’re on your ship.”

Confusion washed over Alarez’s face just as a drip of blood fell from the hatch above and splashed on the Dax’s helmet. His eyes darted up just in time to see Veytok’s massive frame fall upon him, driving a machete deep into the Dax’s chest. With that, the doors opened behind me as more Grineer flooded the tiny room, the guardsmen stood no chance.

Alarez, the only one left alive, stood frozen, “Bilsa, what’s going on?”

“I warned you not to come,” I said, “I told you they would kill you all.”

He was beside himself, “You’re working with Grineer?”

“Alarez, you were right, the system is a mess and I can’t trust anyone, but these Grineer and I, we’ve come to an understanding.” I smiled as I got to my feet, “But please, will you talk to me for just a while longer? These Grineer are so dull. Where are you from? I don’t recognize your-”

Veytok grabbed Alarez and tore his throat open, his red splattering my robes.

“I told you I wanted him alive,” I shouted.

“No trust,” he said. His words sounded clearer every day. “We have the Frigate and the lab. Don’t need him.”

“Do you always have to kill them before I can visit?” I said.

Veytok grunted, “You are Grineer now, don’t need visits.”

[kl-writes]

You know, due to the operators’ amnesia, we don’t know how they managed to kill the Seven. They couldn’t be killed through mundane means, proven by Ordan Karris’s recollections in the cephalon fragments.

We also know Ballas, an Executor, is alive. By all rights, he shouldn’t be-

“The Executors, the Council, they’re all dead or missing, even most of the Sectarus is gone, you might be the last,”  His voice was cracked. “Do you understand? The system’s falling apart but we can rebuild it.”

(From the Guardsman synthesis scan)

If Ballas made it into hiding, or survived through other means, it’s reasonable to say that the Council may have done the same.

This also begs the question of how and why- we speculate that the Collapse wasn’t caused by the Seven’s disappearance alone.

On the heels of the Tenno's victory against the Sentients, the end of the Old War, the golden structures of the Orokin civilization collapsed. The absolute cause of this ruination is unknown, but speculation has pointed to natural disaster, political uprising and universal warfare as possible agents of cataclysm. Archived details for this event have never been recovered. 

And based on other pieces of lore, the Seven did more to harm the system than help it, in any case.

I propose that it’s possible the Seven disappeared prior to the Collapse, and perhaps in anticipation of it. They had Lotus put the Tenno to sleep, so that later they could clear out the Sentients when they returned. Once the New War has completed and the Sentient threat is gone, the Seven may return to retake the system.

I doubt they’ll be successful, if they really do exist. Unfortunately, the only people who might know what really happened to the Seven are Ballas and Natah, neither of which are in a position to speak to the Tenno about it.

[starchild-nerites]

Nerites | Recollection #1

These are brief recollections of my past with the Orokin Empire, The Tenno, and myself... I hope they can give you a better insight into how I view our system.

I was well cared for in the years before the Zariman Ten-Zero incident. My mother and father were both respected Archimedians. However, the Zariman's disappearance changed that. The hunting parties, the violence, it had all changed... me. I'd like to believe I was kind-hearted, diligent in my duties. But I really can't remember much from back then. When the other Tenno and I were allowed back into Orokin society, my body measurements and test scores got me sectioned away from the friends I had come to know.  I was placed as a lone guard for a Sectarus, Edius. From what I can remember, he was kind around others. He would often spoil me with music lessons and sweet food. When Sectarus Edius wasn't busy, he'd often have tea with me. I don't like tea much, but I would never refuse.  That's... All I can remember for now. Maybe we'll try again later? [Orokin Text reads - My Sectarus]

[starchild-nerites]

Silkus Prime

So I was going through Pintrest, as one does, and whilst scrolling through the copious amounts of pictures I got inspired to draw the outfit I imagined Nerites wearing during his servitude to Sectarus Edius and the Orokin Empire. Now, I can't draw all that good. So Instead I just found the closest images I possibly could to what I imagined in my head.

Forenote that the top, bottoms, And shoes would all be connected into one suit. Not separate pieces.

I took heavy inspiration from Suda and Ballas's Orokin Attire

[starchild-nerites]

Nerites | Recollection #4

These are brief recollections of my past with the Orokin Empire, The Tenno, and myself… I hope they can give you a better insight into how I view our system. (Spoilers Below)

Sectarus Edius sent me off-world to pick up items for him. I tried to refuse, not wanting to leave his side, suggesting that the task was something that Petros or Emery, his servants could handle. He declined, of course, saying that he needed me to go specifically.

So I left the tower my Sectarus controlled, heading to an ice sheet somewhere on Neptune of all places. It wasn't until I had left that I had realized I'd left my private communicator. I thought of nothing, I thought I wouldn't need it. If I had that stupid radio...

When I returned to the Tower, It was in ruins. Smoke billowing and fires raging...  dead orokin and servants everywhere. I began to panic, I started searching for them. I could feel my heart pounding harder with each corpse I passed. I finally found one of them. Petros, he lay in pieces, scattered about as if he were garbage. He was my best friend...

I mourned while I moved, continuing for Edius. I stumbled upon Emery, she had been stabbed through the back, no idea that she was going to die. At this point, there was only pain, sadness and fury building inside of me that not even the Emperors themselves could stop. I made my way to the top of the tower. To find... a fellow Tenno, standing over my bloodied Sectarus.

"Ah, Nerites... I didn't know you were sent here as well?"

I knew this tenno, Snasha. One of the few that still spoke to me after the Margulis incident. I was shaking with anger. As she stood there, holding her blood covered sword down to my Sectarus. I began to draw my rapier.

"Stop." My body seized upon Edius's weak command.

I looked down at him, bewildered by his action. He simply shook his head.

"I do not care if even the emperor's order it. You do not harm your own kind, you are not to make the same foolish choices us Orokin. You are kind Nerites. You did terribly on the executor's test, I'm not sure you could hurt something if you even wanted to. That's why I wanted to protect you."

"I was just trying to do good." Snasha looked down to Edius, with a bitter look on her face. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I've stolen enough lifetimes to have seen this coming. I'm glad I had my chance to save one." Edius nodded to both Tenno. "Now be on your way, clean up the mess I and others like me have created..."

Those were my Sectarus's last words.... the last order he ever gave me. Those words are the reason I fight now, to make the system a fair and just place for all. For Petros, for Emery... for Edius. I eventually forgave Snasha, and we’ve become quite close... but the story doesn’t end there. There is so much more I have to tell... once the tears stop flowing.

[Orokin text reads - My Failure]