PARTIZAN 42: The Unbreakable Quarry

Published: Dec. 4, 2020, 2:41 a.m.

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Buried deep in the records of the Divine Past is a peculiar absence. What is buried beneath the northern pole of Partizan? \\u201cThe Chasmata Quarry,\\u201d says the only public record, \\u201cspecializes in rare mineral extraction.\\u201d Eight words. But other quarries on Partizan all have more. You could write a book about the excavations spread across the Columnar\\u2019s Memoria Teardrop, or those digs spread hive-like through the Apostolosian Barranca, or the industrial pockmarks across the long Orion flats of the Low Slate. So why, why were there only eight words about the Chasmata Quarry?

This week on PARTIZAN: The Unbreakable Quarry

///Operation Dossier\\\\\\\\\\\\

//Organizations\\\\\\\\

House Chasmata: Despite not being the highest ranking house on Partizan, the Chasmata family has governed Stel Kesh\\u2019s holdings on the moon for as long as Kesh has been here. But in the last century, the family seems more interested in an archeological dig in the northern ice cap than in managing its estates. This has not, unfortunately for Apostolos, limited the amount of military might that Chasmata can bring to bear in an emergency.\\xa0

The Curtain of Divinity: Though Kesh is technically governed through an elaborate parliamentary democracy, the truth is that The Curtain of Divinity, a secretive organization inside of the Stel (and with agents across all of the Principality), serves as the actual power behind the throne. Knowledge of the Curtain is carefully guarded, and its membership is even further protected.\\xa0

Was originally established to rein in the Principality\\u2019s most tyrannical institutions and encourage growth and equity over generations, while hiding the truth of what lied beyond the Scutum-Centaurus Portcullis. Over time, their more noble aims were eroded, and only this final goal remained, along with a much more selfish goal of controlling the state.

Has recently announced its presence on Partizan and throughout the Principality. Currently in conflict with the Pact of Necessary Venture, Millennium Break, and the Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic.

//People\\\\\\\\

Gucci Garantine (she/her): Defector from Stel Kesh, controller of House Brightline and HORIZON\\u2019s efforts on Partizan. Now a powerful member of Millennium Break\\u2019s political class, heading the Party of the Masque.

The Witch in Glass (she/her): A former scion of Kesh who, after knitting a bond with the adversary Perennial, came into control of the body of the Divine Past. Now scours Partizan for the lost, injured, and unsure, recruiting them into her growing city-state. A shaky ally of Millennium Break. Haunted by an old foe.

Cas\\u2019alear Rizah (cas/cas\\u2019, they/them): Leader of the Swordbreakers, sibling of the Glorious Princept. Cas has brown skin with dark green hair up in a bun, with a few strands hanging down in front of their face (which is framed with similarly colored scales covering cas\\u2019 jawline and neck. Broken sword tattoos under their eyes. Reputation as being beautiful and brave by allies, unflinching and unpredictable by foes. Pilots the notorious Ataraxia. Was badly wounded in the defense against Motion and GLORY in Auspice, and now, through a combination of the Witch in Glass\\u2019 gifts and ongoing rehabilitation, is working to return to fighting form.

Agon Ortlights (she/her): Aided by her servicebot companions, Agon worked hard to attain the rank of lieutenant in the Company of the Spade, where she\\u2019s become a veteren mercenary, a skilled miner, and a hell of a drinking buddy.\\xa0

Sloe Uplight (he/him): His business card says \\u201cPrivate Historian,\\u201d his parlor rooms\\u2019 security system says \\u201cinformation broker,\\u201d and his grinning mouth says \\u201cno difference.\\u201d A Kesh academic turned freelance fixer, turned again to Millennium Break intelligence officer.

//Places\\\\\\\\

Chasmata Quarry: Founded almost one thousand years ago, the Chasmata family has been digging into the ice and stone at the north pole for as long as Kesh has been on the planet. Activity in the area has increased in the last century. No information gets in or out. Every scout sent to investigate the area has been lost forever.

The Reflecting Pool: The city that has emerged inside of the Divine Past\\u2019s body, led by the Witch in Glass. Its citizens come from every walk of life on Partizan, all united in the desire to leave the past behind and start a new life.

//Divines\\\\\\\\

The Divine Past: Part floating city, part living library, and current home to the Reflecting Pool. The Divine Past was built tens of thousands of years before the Divine Principality was created. It stores an untold amount of information about the cultures it has observed, including the Divine Principality itself.

//Things\\\\\\\\

Curtain Ideograms: A vast collection of graphic symbols and code words used by the Curtain to communicate information clandestinely.

//Additional Notes\\\\\\\\

Primary Objective: Identify, and then destroy or recover \\u201cLodestone.\\u201d\\xa0

Secondary Objective: Capture enemy commander.

Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker)

Featuring Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000)

Produced by Ali Acampora (@ali_west)

Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)

Text by Austin Walker

Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)

A transcription is available for this episode here.

A full list of completed transcriptions is available here. Our transcriptions are provided by a fan-organized paid transcription project. If you\'d like to join, you can get more information at https://twitter.com/transcript_fatt. Thank you to all of our transcribers!!

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