In reply to Kaspar Radoslaw Gorski (msg # 724):

"Right then, Sargeant, lead on." Kaspar says to Rajip, "Let's go join Hilda as quickly as we can."

With the strange cat-headed woman gone from sight, Hilda began to wonder if the encounter had been a dream or vision, but she hadn't had mushrooms recently. She'd been raised without science fiction, without tales of aliens training her to expect the weird. Oh, she knew Norse mythology, but much of it much closer to the reality of the Galaxy. And she'd seen aliens: Vasandra, for one, but she was just purple and pointy-eared, a dark elf. Stranger still were the Asgard, but she'd taken the Test of Worthiness and won the right to see the gods' true faces, gray dwarves far from human. She'd known Hermod and Freyda well. So, she wasn't wholly unfamiliar. But to see one very familiar thing, a common cat, contorted to the shape of another, a man, was disturbing on a fundamental, instinctive level. At least her experiences had prepared her; she'd not panicked and fled or attacked, she'd remained calm and clear-headed. She did indeed have experience going a'viking.

Shaken but recovering, Hilda settled into a covered position to await the others. Asherrra. How many 'r's was that?

The others arrive in about 20 minutes, and when Hilda glanced over to see if the cat-woman was there, she was.

When Vasandra tries to send the drone over, the birds swoop down and block the way.

As Vasandra piloted the drone closer to the birds, Hilda warned 'Stop! The birds defend the city.' She realised how strange that sounded, then explained further 'They are of metal and plastic, like your drone. So is the bridge. They are all crafted.' Her tone was intense, she was clearly disturbed by what she'd found.

She flung an arm out to point across the chasm to point at the robed standing at the other end of the rope bridge. 'And she has a cat for a head— I mean, she has the head of a cat. On her head... Her head is a cat's head. It has whiskers.' English was clearly failing her.

In reply to Hilda (msg # 728):

Kaspar made calming motions towards Hilda, while turning his head to address Vasandra.

"Vasandra, let's be polite and call in our drones." Kaspar says, then turns back to Hilda, "Okay, okay. So, that...person, over there..." Kaspar nods his head at the figure across the bridge, "She is a she, and she has the facial features of a cat. Okay, now we all know not to be startled by her appearance. Thank you."

"So, did she speak to you?" Kaspar continues, "Did she make any effort at communication? Give you any indication she may be hostile?"

Hilda floundered at the array of questions. 'Yes— I mean, no, she was not hostile. Yes, she spoke. She welcomed us to the First City, and will guide us. She seemed friendly. Her name is Asher-r-ra,' she tried to roll the 'r's as the cat-lady had done, though without much success. 'I told her we come to learn and trade and seek shelter.' She turned her pointing into a friendly wave to Asherrra, before she found it rude.

"How... interesting," Gavin says. "First of all, let me point out that we've only seen one such person. It is possible that the rest of her people are simulacra of other creatures, so we should not be surprised if the next one we meet has the head of a raccoon or a fox or a bear."

"She has cat-like features. Now, Hilda, would you say those features were like an ordinary house cat? Or were they more like a tiger? Or a lion? Or maybe somewhere in between?"

"I am just wondering if these people evolved naturally from a feline species native to this world, or were they an import? Were they uplifted?"

"At the moment, I would think uplifted. If they were a naturally evolved species, we should have seen more evidence of their civilization than just one city. Of course, that's from our perspective. They could have widely scattered cities that are extremely territorial, thus no others are permitted near by."

"Remember, though, that the Jaffa shot down one of their bird-drones. Hopefully, they'll realize that we haven't attacked any of their bird-drones, and so not confuse us with the Jaffa."

"Major, if you have something you wish to convey to the cat-woman, tell Hilda. She should be the one to converse with her... at least for now."

Gavin didn't think of himself as opinionated, but, at the same time, his perspective was the main reason he was on the team. The Tollan had far more experience--not all of it good--with the other species of the galaxy.

'Tiger, lion? I know not these animals. On my world, we have the dagger-fang cat, the snow-cat, the shadow-cat, and, worst of all, the house cat... Asherrra was...' Hilda tried to describe Asherrra's markings and colouration.

'I saw tracks of small cats back in the wood. I did not think to check the stride, but they were too small for these ones, unless they were kittens playing alone.'

In reply to Hilda (msg # 732):

"Or this 'First City' is a colonial outpost, and thus the only one on the planet." Kaspar added to Gavin's musings, "But valid points, Gavin. We should keep them in mind."

Kaspar turns to Freyda, "Freyda, as a biologist, or geneticist, or whatever you are, exactly, I assume you have some form of bioscanners with you? If you can do so unobtrusively, try and get some scans of these 'crafted' creatures of Hilda's, please. Are they pure constructs, or actual living bio-mechanical creatures?"

To Hilda, "Gavin has a good point, Hilda; you made the first contact with this -- what did you say her name was...Ash-shoo-ra? Well, I think it's a good idea that you preceed us across the bridge and make the introductions."

Kaspar looks around the group, "Well, if we're all ready? I suggest we cross over..." Kaspar gestures for Hilda to go on ahead.

'Asherrra.' Hilda repeated for Kaspar, dragging out the 'r's. 'Alright.' Summoning her courage, she stepped back onto the bridge and advanced slowly across it toward the robed cat-woman. So, she had a cat head. Okay. She could live with that.

When she was within talking distance, Hilda waved to Asherrra, and made introductions as requested. 'Hail! These are my team. I have the honour to introduce the great Lady Freyda of Asgard,' Not a goddess, she'd reminded herself, 'I am Hildr Eriksdóttir, of Cimmeria; Vasandra Tourmaline of Netjeria, Gavin of Tollan; Rajip Mojdar, of Midgard; and the old one is Kaspar Gorski of Poland.' That was all correct, wasn't it? She'd figured Poland and America were separate planets. 'We serve the S.G.C. of Midgard.' She was hardly like to call it Earth, was she? It was a stupid name for a planet.

  Freyda was already scanning constantly as they traveled, keeping an eye out for biological readings, naquadah or anything else unexpected. When she arrived at the bridge she directed them into a narrow search at the feline humanoid and the flying mechanical constructs.

Freyda's sensors can detect the mechanical birds, even confirm that they are artificial constructs, but her sensors cannot penetrate the 'skin' of the birds to determine how they fly.

Likewise, her sensors stop at Asherrra's skin. She detect the presence of the cat-woman, though only via visible light. There is no other radiation being given off that Freyda can detect... not even heat.

Freyda quickly realizes the absurdity of that. For an organic being to function, it has to radiate heat. Even if it was somehow being channeled inward, it would have to be gotten rid of somehow. That's when she realizes her sensors are being... blocked. Not even the Nox can do that... but... the Ancients probably could. Freyda does not recall such a situation ever having occurred between the Asgard and the Ancients.


"Grrreetings, Trrravelerrrs of the Astrrria Porrrta," Asherrra responds. "Hilda has inforrrmed us that you arrre learrrnerrrs and trrraderrrs. As such, you arrre welcome in the Firrrst City. The Firrrst arrre learrrnerrrs and trrraders as well."

"Please, follow me."

She turns then and begins walking up the switchback pathway.

  Freyda reports to the others in the group of her findings. "It would appear that they are blocking my scans. I cannot give you any details. They must be very advanced to be able to block every spectrum. There is no race known to us that can do that, except possibly the Ancients, though I have no record of that in my database either. Interesting."

'We thank you for your welcome.' Hilda replied to Asherrra, then looked between her teammates, expecting shock and curses at the sight of the cat-head.

'She doesn't look ancient.' she commented after Freyda's finding, a statement that could be taken two ways. She was concerned that even the goddess couldn't peer through the cat-lady's veils. 'Very advanced, but they build... simple. Like the bridge, the birds. Nothing is what it seems. Be careful.' she warned.

When they seemed ready, she led the way off the bridge and up the winding path.

In reply to Hilda (msg # 738):

"Note the distinction our feline hostess just used;" Kaspar says in a quiet tone, "The name of the city may be 'First City', but then she said that 'the First' are learners -- so this isn't the 'First' of many cities, it is a city where a people called 'The First' dwell."

As the Team follows Hilda across the bridge, Kaspar looks them all over, "Right. Our hostess hasn't said anything yet, but let's not call any extra attention to our being armed -- so, sling weapons, everyone. Holster or pack 'em away, but hands off all weapons. Let's be polite visitors."

'Sounds a bit snobby to me.' Hilda muttered under her breath, still wary. 'Who comes Second?' She slung her rifle as commanded, but she had enough weapons on hand for whatever might happen.

  Freyda edged her hoverchair forward getting close to the hostess. She has dozens of questions that piqued her interest, but she will start with a couple of general ones. When she has the opportunity she asks diplomatically, "Does your race inhabit other worlds, or does your species only dwell on this planet? Are there different species living within your civilization?"

OOC: No Hilda, What is Second.. Who is First. Perhaps Abbot and Costello founded this civilization.

I'm not going to keep putting all the extra 'r's in her words, but they are always there.


"I am not aware of any of us existing on other worlds," Asherrra replies to Freyda. "There may well be similar species out there, though. The Alterans did not inform us of such."

"We are all one species in the First City. We were the first species that the Alterans uplifted. They told us that they were not gods, but is that not what gods do?"

"Once, the Goa'uld came, and the Alteran defenses drove them off. After that, we buried the Astria Porta. You must have come here on the Goa'uld sky-chariot. Why did they not eat you?"



Up at the top, the huge gates swing open as you all approach. Beyond, you can see a gleaming metal-and-glass city, with wide tree-line avenues, an assortment of parks and fountains, and a variety of trees. None of the buildings are more than three stories tall, which do not top the walls.

You see a number of cat-people walking about. There are none gathered around the gate as you might expect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:05, Wed 11 May 2016.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 742):

"Alterans?" Kaspar whispers to Gavin, with a frown of puzzlement on his face, "Why does that sound familiar?"

At the mention of the Goa'uld, Kaspar calls out, "Eat us? Why would they eat us? Do you mean that literally, or figuratively?"

'That is what they do.' Hilda agreed, thinking of Freyda and Hermod. Of course, the Goa'uld did say they were gods, and they had powers just as great, but the Asgard and the Tau'ri said they were not gods. How was she to tell the difference?



'There was a... we call it a Stargate, or Ring of Stars... on the Goa'uld sky-chariot. We came through that. But we are no friends of the Goa'uld.' Hilda explained, stressing the last part lest Asherrra think them one of the enemy. That Goa'uld ate people didn't surprise her as it did Kaspar; it just seemed another of their despicable crimes. Or did she refer to the slime-beasts? 'What do you know of the Goa'uld of this sky-chariot, and their Jaffa?' The sight of all the cat-people disturbed her, but she was growing accustomed to this, as she had many things since seeing the Asgard and coming to Midgard.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Thu 12 May 2016.

"I have no idea who or what the Alterans are," Gavin replied to Kaspar.

"The Tollan may have encountered them, but that isn't information I have."

He did his best not to stare, but he was fascinated by these cat-people. This 'uplifting' must have been a long time ago, as they seemed quite natural in their city environment. He was surprised that there appeared to be little to no interest shown in their arrival. Even Tollans knew about the curiosity of cats.

"Literally or figuratively..." Asherrra mused. "New words. Ah. I think I understand. I do not know the difference, however. It is not that we have great knowledge about the Goa'uld, but we were led to believe that they ate people. We were altered so that we would be inedible to them."

"Anyone who has been et by a Goa'uld still looks the same, but they are no longer there. Is that not what happens?"

She then answers Hilda's question.

"All we know of this Goa'uld sky-chariot is what we have observed with our skybird before they destroyed it with one of their power-sticks."

"I do not know of these Jaffa of which you speak."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:20, Fri 13 May 2016.

The Tollan are not an old enough race to have encountered the Alterans.

Freyda is the one that would know who they are. The Alterans are the parent race of the Ancients and the Ori. No one knows what happened to the Ori. Eventually, the Ancients ascended.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 747):

"Ah. Well." Kaspar says, thinking furiously, "Um, how about the word 'parasite' - meaning a creature that attaches itself to another organism, in order to gain sustenance and security, often to the detriment of the host organism."

"That is what the Goa'uld do. They are a small parasite creature that wriggles itself into the brain-stem of a host organism, and completely dominates the personality of the host. That is what I meant by being 'eaten' figuratively - the personality of the Goa'uld 'consumes' the personality of the host, but leaves the body intact."

"Although we have discovered that the host personality isn't completely 'consumed', it is actually more like suppressed, or buried so deeply that it cannot exert any control over its own body."

"Uh, but, you say that your species is, I believe you said 'poisonous' to the Goa'uld? How is that accomplished, if it isn't too personal to ask?"

  The Asgard watched the exchange with interest of the answers, more so than the questions. The mention of Alterans, was when her eyes brightened a little. After they answer the major's queries, Freyda will speak up. "The Alterans, they were the ancestors of the Lanteans, or Ancients as the Tau'ri know them, and another group known as the Ori. It is said that the two groups split over philosophical differences. Though this information is based on incomplete data."

  She turned her head to face the Asherrra, "I am Freyda, of the Asgard race. Are you familiar with any of the races mentioned? These Gua'old you observed, were they reptilian or closer to the human species, like these people?" She pointed to Kaspar and the Sergeant to emphasize the Earth dwellers.