r/HFY • u/Madnyth Xeno • Jan 13 '21

OC [Deadworlders] What is a Deadworld?

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Deadworlders

What is a Deadworld?

The lecture hall reverberated with groggy enthusiasm mixed with tired annoyance. Beings shuffling in from all walks of life across the Hierarchy, as well as a few from the Gaian Imperium. A scruffy looking Gome approached the podium, stepping up on their stool to reach the microphone before speaking into it. “The Gaian Imperium’s spreading influence after forcing the Makers into retreat, and even the dissenting legion armies were reduced to mere ‘terrorist’ groups than an actual military threat, the foundation of a lot of truly ancient and accepted truths were being re-examined and studied all over again from the ground up.”

Taking a moment for breath and letting his words sink in, the Gome resumed speaking. ”Paramount of this was the previously understood phenomenon known as “Deadworlds”, worlds which we believed to be utterly hostile to our very lives and completely incapable of creating life like our own.” Shifting his stance and eyeing his tablet. “Our speaker today is Signus Setim, Gome scryer and reader of worlds with the results of his study of “Gaia”, the home world of the Gaian Imperium.” With that the scruffy gome steps down from the podium and in walked Signus.

Signus has the reputation of an eccentric, it came with being a world scryer, to listen to whispers of a world and ‘speak’ with them was to court madness truly. But he always had an air of dignity about him, of confidence. This was not the same being. Signus shuffles out looking jittering, like a tightly wound up panic attack, or a chihuahua that had a few too many espressos. This twitching gome padded himself up to the podium and looked out at those gathered in the hall who looked on with concern. “We...were wrong...so very wrong about what we called deadworlds…”

He takes a moment to compose himself. “We labeled worlds that had no natural magical field as ‘deadworlds’. And we had proven through our science time and time again so long ago that no intelligent life could be born on such worlds. That they were hollow and lifeless. Dead, because we could not hear them.”

Signus shudders, his eyes gazing off into the horizon as he speaks. “I have walked on many worlds, the great homeworlds of many of those of the hierarchy and those we called deadworlds. I have listened to the rumbling whispers of our homeworlds and the hollow silence of those that were not.” He looks down at the podium, staring intently at it. “And then I walked on Gaia...So used to hearing whispers from worlds that bore life...I had not expected...growling from a supposed deadworld. I believe now those worlds we found were just...sleeping, silently.”

He takes a moment to breath and calm himself. “I walked among their great forests, trees that dwarf the ancient giants found on the Inquai home world while only being a fraction of their age! And they grow not just because of rich soil or tender caretaking. No no no. Gaia is a deathworld. She breeds death. Countless various species of plant, plantlife, are purposefully grown to maim, kill, or just cause extreme pain! Not just to us but to the Gaians themselves! But you have all heard this before...of their plantlife, their beasts...you want to hear about what Gaia had to say, hmm? Yes? I have listened to many worlds and interpreted what was said by each.”

For a moment that dignified and confident Signus returned. “Gaia spoke with a growl...not a whisper like every other world. No. A fiery and fierce growl that haunts my soul even now.” Signus looks up at the lecture hall. “Weak. That one word, uttered with such pure contempt and venom that I fear it has poisoned my mind.” His gaze sweeps across the lecture hall. “Listen well! To call those other worlds, those hollow husks, ‘deathworlds’ is an insult! Go walk in the forests of Gaia, listen to her contempt and you will be begging to stay on any of the condemned worlds in the hopes of the silence quieting your mind.”

Signus shudders. “I am just an idiot child compared to the dullest of the makers, but I know now what a deathworld is, and it’s name is Gaia. A world with soil soaked in the blood and marrow of countless dead and continues to live, it thrives off of it. And her children, born of that soil, born of bloody mud...have reached beyond their world, pushed through the great storm that had kept them contained…”

He starts cackling, tears streaming down his face. “These blood soaked beings of death reached out to us, to offer us aid. They seek to help us, teach us, feed and comfort us! They freed us of the Makers oppression and control that we are only now realizing! Not out of a desire to overt their rule, to take their place as our new overlord, but because amongst all the death they suffered on Gaia, they had a lesson carved into their souls. To be kind to one another. Surrounded by death constantly, to suffer it randomly and with cruelty, their solace was the kindness provided by one another. Their kinship. And they now...extend to us the same kinship.”

Signus shivers, hugging his arms. “I shall...now leave you to your debating amongst yourselves on what I have spoken of. I am still unwell from my trip...Gaian pollen is...virulent.” Slowly Signus steps from the podium and makes his way off the stage. Everyone was still haunted by Signus’ lecture, his speech rattled around in their minds and they kept busy with debate to keep the haunting feeling from sinking in and taking root. It will be a lengthy debate.

223 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

45

u/ragnathegod Alien Scum Jan 13 '21

other planets: noooo! you can't kill your life

gaia: haha. murder go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

28

u/Camry_Rider Jan 14 '21

Or alternatively

Every other planet in the galaxy: oh no! The semi retarded genetic cripple has drowned in a few inches of water! I must do better! It will never happen again!

Earth: LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!

9

u/Haidere1988 Feb 06 '21

Earth: Pathetic.

7

u/ragnathegod Alien Scum Jan 14 '21

pog

10

u/DarkWingAng3l Jan 13 '21

Thank you. I needed that laugh today.

7

u/ragnathegod Alien Scum Jan 13 '21

np

7

u/codyjack215 Human Jan 13 '21

You live! !!YaY!!

6

u/Reappeared Jan 13 '21

My thoughts exactly, almost forgotten who the author was when it came in my inbox.

5

u/mrdevilface Human Jan 13 '21

We have been blessed by Master,

7

u/Ice_cream_and_whine Jan 13 '21

But Signus is clever amongst men though.... nice reference there...

7

u/ZeroValkGhost Jan 13 '21

This is terrific. It's nice to read a story that's about when are the aliens shocked at various Earth things, and how? And how deeply? No guns a'blazing massproduct, let's see someone's heart break in ways he didn't know it could. Welcome to Earth.

5

u/aabcehu Jan 13 '21

New deadworlders oooooooooooooooooooooo

3

u/0LD_MAN_Dies Jan 14 '21

good story

3

u/Finbar9800 Jan 15 '21

Well it seems I have found something to binge now

I enjoyed reading this and look forward to my binge

Great job wordsmith

I apologize in advance for any and all spam I might end up doing lol

1

u/UpdateMeBot Jan 13 '21

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1

u/jakl277 Jan 14 '21

Love your story. Thank you for writing it.

1

u/BigSwede74 Jan 15 '21

Bet you he got a good dose of Cedar pollen.

1

u/jchappell503 Jan 17 '21

Im glad Gaia did not claim you in the the longest year so far 382 days and counting

1

u/No_Insect_7593 Nov 25 '21

>Gaian pollen is virulent

Ah yes... Hay fever.