Eurydice
| Stargate: Underground | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dungeon Master | |
| Adam | |
| Exploration Team | |
|
Xiao Xing - Team Leader (Chinese) Jasmine Finch - Medic (American) Marja Broznawski - Weapon Specialist (Polish) Lance Sargent - Systems Engineer (American) Eurydice - Cultural Relations (Alien) | |
| Mission Clock | |
| 2 days, 2.5 hours | |
| Expedition Notes | |
| Region A | |
| Expedition Resorces | |
| Weapons - Survival - Recovered | |
| Extras | |
| House Rules - Bestiary |
Vitals
| Name: Eurydice
|
Place of Birth: Lantea Atlantus Height: 5'10" |
Description
Eurydice, in a crowd, is not particularly striking, not even with her decent height and blonde hair. Eurydice works hard to blend in socially, though she is loathe to give up some vestiges of her past. She only stands out when she wants to assert herself, preferring to stay reserved but friendly, private when public, observant rather than an outgoing go-getter. She is, however, a people person, making friends and learning from them what she can. When given a chance, she will turn from cold and cautious to warm and friendly. Should she be caught in anger, her blue eyes will be startlingly piercing. Flying, she is like a little girl again.
When on missions and in Atlantis, she has generally adopted the clothing and equipment of the Tau'ri to better blend in and be accepted. However in off duty hours, or on missions requiring a local face, she may wear clothing of her own. She prefers clean lines and pale colors, similar to her youth, and has adopted leathers, trinkets, and ephemera from other worlds she has visited; each tells some story. Her expedition uniform, like other Pegasus natives, does not bear a flag from Earth. She has a slight accent, but so do many on the expedition. Her Lantean is smooth and eloquent.
One noticeable physical flaw, strange on such a healthy person, is a set of scars on her chest from a wraith feeding and torture. She claims it is from when she was a young teenager.
Classified Report 8973 AE-SGC 331
Eurydice
The following material is classified.
Athanastera Oris, also known as Anna, is a known friendly native of the Pegasus Galaxy, now a part of Atlantis expedition operations. Anna/Eurydice is now on mission with Atlantis Recon dubbed "Apollo 13" to M57-856, dubbed "the Dungeon." There is now new information that she may be a person named Eurydice. I have reasons to believe this is true. the intent of this report is to provide a brief history and begin outlining the evidence we have.
Anna/Eurydice was first encountered by Pandavi's 11th Atlantis Recon team. Pandavi reported a string of gate activations following SGA-11's movements on multi-world missions. While possible on their own as some of the worlds were trade hubs, the team grew suspicious. The following is a excerpt from Pandavi's report on the mission to M33-552 (Celera).
"The members of AR-11 became separated while exploring wraith ship ruins on Celera and discovered male drones in situ. Nakamura reported more via comms. With sustained injuries and firepower on the side of the wraith, I ordered a retreat to the gate to regroup and dial out. We made our way through the ship to the outside forrest and back to the Stargate, taking heavy fire. Nakamura, Grace, and I all put down several, many of whom recovered. Grace and I provided covering fire while Nakamura entered our address but did not complete the dial on the Gate. The transponder was activated. We called for Hotchkiss repeatedly.'
"Hotchkiss was still aboard the wraith vessel and reports being reinforced by a woman, now known to be called Athanastera Oris, who wielded laser weaponry and 'some sort of flash bang.' She led Hotchkiss to a 'hoverbike of clear Lantean technology'and piloted Hotchkiss to the Stargate. Hotchkiss provided covering fire for the remaining wraith on the ground.'
As they approached, the Stargate activated of its own accord and the vehicle went through. We checked the DHD and saw that the address was still for Atlantis. Hotchkiss later reported a glow and dialing mechanism activate on the vehicle. We followed them through the Stargate, arriving in Atlantis."
It is theorized that Anna/Euridice used the vehicle to finish the dial rather than overriding it. This not a common technique but possible according to the theories of Carter and McKay given the variety of different controls ship based DHDs have.
Per procedures, Anna/Eurydice was taken for medical clearance and interrogation with house arrest to be relieved upon results of testing and analysis. There were some questions due to Pandavi's initial suspicions, however these were tempered by both Anna/Eurydice's actions to help Hotchkiss against the wraith and her obvious possession and use of Lantean technology. After the typical moment of amazement, she said she was "happy to comply by any standards [we] wished to examine her by." She further introduced herself as Athanastera Oris, and I flubbed her name. She said Anna would do fine (it was close to what I said). It has since stuck. Her unclassified files bear this name.
Anna/Eurydice's medical exam revealed a woman in her mid twenties in excellent health. The exam confirmed the presence of the ATA gene with strong expression. Dr. Keller likened "Anna's" health status to that of the Ancient Chaya Sar, however theories to any similarity were halted by visual exam, which revealed scars, including those from an apparent wraith feeding. Anna/Eurydice admitted to having been abducted and tortured by the wraith when she was a teenager, and having been rescued. There was one noted "glitch" reported by Dr. Keller: the scanners repeatedly tried to show a change in health status. After a brief time, this ended and was tabled.
Anna/Eurydice was interviewed for personal history, knowledge, and motives for the events on M33-552. In the interview she revealed that her own homeworld, which she called Hellais, had been destroyed by the wraith in a wave of vengeance attacks similar to those on Sateda. She recalled to us how the people of her world evacuated through the Stargate, and how she attempted to help her mother with the evacuations against the wishes of her father. She and her mother were both taken by the wraith, however she survived to be tortured for information. The wraith appear to have used their giving techniques to keep her alive, and restore her after torture, as they do to obtain human followers. During the ensuing battle, a recsue party was mounted and Anna/Eurydice was among those recovered.
Anna/Eurydice explained that she was, for most purposes, a solo traveller, orphaned after the fall of her world. It was clear that she had some knowledge of Lantean devices and the language as she could read the entry way and steps leading up to the Stargate in Atlantis. She also had some skill as a pilot to fly the hoverbike. As a valuable contact, we gave her a friendly dial number and were prepared to send "Anna" on her way. Anna/Eurydice referenced us contacting her, much as though she wanted to stay.
A few incidents stand out from this brief time with Anna/Eurydice. First, after initial house arrest, her doors would not lock; though locked manually by panel, she could open them at will. The expression of her ATA gene was cited. "Anna" was not deemed a threat, so after she was cleared by medical, and after interview was cleared, the lock was not a major concern. A sergeant was stationed until then on MP/guard duty. Second, on the brief tour, several items in the city, and the transporter directory, could and would light up for Anna. It is thought she might have been looking for something, thinking a question, or it sensing her presence. This is unusual off the bat for even most people with the ATA gene and requires practice to coordinate or imagine the spatial or instantaneous pathways for. Third, an archives room also started up mid-program for Anna, which is highly unusual. It usually only loads up that damn "Welcome to Atlantis, We're all Dead" screen or "Where Would You Like to Start Your Jedi Training?" menu.
Anna's return through the Gate was prevented by incoming call from AR-4, who were in need of backup to get to the Gate. With many out on missions already, I suggested sending Anna in with then pilotless AR-7 to provide aerial support in an additional Puddle Jumper. She performed admirably. My First Recon and AR-7 were able to evacuate AR-4 and several local civilian refugees. [Refer to my notes in XX-XX-XXXA for details.] After this I asked Anna if she would want to stay, in which case I would make a case on her behalf. She agreed.
Anna/Eurydice was accepted as a member and resident of Atlantis and the expedition. Notes from the recommendation and acceptance are attached. She has been an asset for her knowledge of local customs and cultures, Lantean language, piloting skills, and teamwork. Please refer to the attached/included/linked mission reports for her performance. Anna especially showed her loyalty during the last wraith attacks and our return to Earth.
On Earth, Anna/Eurydice was given clearance to visit San Francisco and other local sites along with several other offworlders. She helped with the transportation of people and goods to and from Travis AFB as did other pilots.
Up till this point, there were assumptions made about her history based on similar experiences we have encountered. Anna's story was much like any other wraith destroyed world, though she seemed incredibly lucky or blessed to be both a carrier of the ATA gene and a survivor of the wraith. Now, however, new information has come to light:
1. Anna's homeworld does not match her description 2. Anna genetically matches another person, named Eurydice
These are as follows:
1. Anna's homeworld:
In their missions, AR-3 mentioned and received an address for Helias. We had hopes that if Helias was found, there might be surviving technology similar to Anna's equipment or even a ZPM. These would be extraordinarily valuable. When asked, Anna was cagey about her homeworld, stating "there is nothing left." She did not want us to go and would not speak much on the subject, preferring to talk about the days of her youth. AR teams were tasked with a continuing mission to try to find leads pertaining to Helias. AR-3 found the right one first.
Upon arrival at Helias, AR-3 discovered the Stargate to be in a protected chamber of Lantean design, however surrounded by torchlight. From Talltree's mission report:
"The chamber the Stargate was in was the center of Ancient ruins that had been repurposed for an indoor market hall. Bujold was reading the old welcoming inscriptions on the walls in Lantean. The exterior we could see through open spaces was agrarian and forested. We were indeed welcomed as visitors, and showed around the town. The town is sizable and they serve as a market hub for the local area. A wheat or spelt like grain is plentiful. Other larger towns on the world exist; while they had faced cullings by the wraith, none were anywhere near as cataclysmic as the descriptions Anna gave, nor was there any sign of advanced or industrial technology on Helias."
Anna has kept information from us regarding her homeworld, or has hidden her true homeworld from us.
2. Anna's genetic identity:
The "glitch" that Dr. Keller identified in medical sorted out with a little teasing, most likely due to the interference between our technology and the Lantean technology from the City. The glitch appeared as though she had a previous record in our or the City's archive. Atlantis was trying to pull up an old medical record of a girl named Eurydice who lived on Atlantis, matching this Eurydice to the visitor Anna. The files are irregular, as though she lived here sporadically, or came to visit. Either way she has a medical record, and her image does look like a younger Anna. It may be possible to tease out more records about Eurydice and her life here as a girl, and connect some of the dots between the two. If it is not her, she would need to be a very close relative, next of kin or direct descendant, for the genetic match to show- an unlikely error.
I was forcibly reminded upon about the Greek/Roman myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as Orpheus goes to Hades to beg for the chance to save his wife who died from the bite of a horrible snake. Persephone/Proserpina convinces the coldhearted Hades/Pluto to let him try so long as he doesn't look back at her as they leave. As they go, she stumbles and mutters or something happens and he does it, he looks back, and Eurydice is lost forever. Orpheus wanders the Earth lamenting her in song until his death.
I think its clear who -or what- the snake is in this tale. It is the wraith. But if there was an Eurydice on Atlantis, where's Orpheus? Who were they really? If it is true, why conceal it? What really happened?
Conclusion:
Anna Oris has proven a valuable member to the Atlantis expedition. We have high suspicions that she is not all she says she is and is hiding or concealing aspects of her past. We are unclear on the connection to the Lantean girl Eurydice, however direct confrontation should be avoided because it has a tendency to scare Ancients off who think they hid themselves well, just in case she is and they are getting better at it. This is not a pattern to perpetuate. However, honesty is. If the genetic match is certain, then besides having some explaining to do, Anna/Eurydice is Lantean, and has a much deeper history than we imagined. She possibly may have ascended at some point, or even is now.
While I admire having a stronger case before making an accusation or questioning her further, and I'm at a loss for most of the hows and whats and whys going on surrounding her other than her willingness to help and desire to be on the team, I would tend to ask her personally if she were present. This is unusual for the ascended, who have a policy of non-interference, and for the Ancients in general who value free will, however we, including myself, have met several, who are curious about us, their closest and younger kindred. Her background is sensitive, whatever the outcomes or truth of it is. However, because of her current mission, this is not possible. I will uncharacteristically advocate for patience, a wait-and-see approach as we gather up case and certainty before asking or informing so as not to jeopardize the mission or lives of her Atlantis Recon team. Should they return easily, this topic should become a priority.
Actions:
Continue to gather intel surrounding the Lantean Eurydice.
Look for any relevance in the history of Helias.
Let the doctors do their doctoring thing for medical and biological comparisons between Eurydice and Anna. Is this 100% accurate?
Do not inform Finch or her team at this time that there are concerns about one of her team members due to the heightened stress of their mission situation. If we learn more, Finch may be the way to get Anna/Eurydice to open up, but now is not that time.
Examine the Lantean Hoverbike more closely.
Attributes and Traits
Experience
- Extra 3 pts Merits at starting
- XP Total: 6
- Available XP: 0
Merits
- Ancient Technology Activation Gene 5 (max)
"It truly is a gift from the Ancestors." Eurydice can activate and use Ancient technology with proficient ease from the strongest gene expression and practice.
- Language: Lantean 3 (Fluent) (Free Native Language to 3)
"Lemures delendae sunt."
- Language: English 3 (Fluent) (Free to 2)
"It's the lingua franca of the Pegasus Galaxy these days."
- Natural Immunity 1 pt merit
"It's amazing what a positive attitude and a kindly given meal can do." +2 Modifier on Stamina rolls to resist infection, viruses, and bacteria. Eurydice is rarely ill.
- Toxin Resistance 2 pt merit
"You're on. I'll drink you under the table, marine." +2 Modifier on Stamina rolls to resist the effects of drugs, poisons, and toxins.
- Status Atlantis 1 pt merit (free)
"You have my word and oath that I will do my utmost to aid you and your endeavors and consider them as my own. Besides, I like the patch." Eurydice is a recognized member of the Atlantis Expedition and considers Atlantis home.
Attributes
| Intelligence | 3 | Wits | 2 | Resolve | 2 | ||
| Strength | 2 | Dexterity | 3 | Stamina | 3 | ||
| Presence | 2 | Manipulation | 2 | Composure | 2 |
Derived Traits
- Size 5
- Speed 10
- Defense 3
- Armor 2/3
- Initiative Mod 1d10 + 5
- Perception 4
Other Traits
- Health 9
- Willpower 6
- (Morality 7)
Skills
Mental
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Physical
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Social
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Equipment
Weapons
Helian Energy Pistol
Dice Mod: 2 Lethal, total dice pool: 8
Range: 20/40/80
Magazine: 50 per battery pack charged
Size: 1/S
Special: Firearm Specialty, has Stun setting. Stun lasts for several hours.
Location: Carried
FN P90, 5.7x28mm
Dice Mod: 2 Lethal, total dice pool: 7
Range: 80/160/320
Magazine: 50+1
Size: 2
Special: Fully Automatic, Armor Piercing 2
Location: Carried
Standard Issue Expedition Knife
Dice Mod: 1 Lethal, total dice pool: 8
Range: Brawl/Close
Size: 1/S
Location: Carried
Gear
Life Signs Detector
- Can detect and track undifferentiated life signs within a 100m range. It can detect energy signatures and radiation even underground. Maps can be uploaded and/or programmed into it, and different life signs may be redesignated once read by marking them with a color change. It has a map of Atlantis in its memory.
Location: Tacvest.
Personal First Aid Kit
- +1 die to medical checks
Location: Tacvest and Backpack
Tablet Computer Location: Tacvest and Backpack
Development and Trivia
Development
Atlantis team members have established a history of both running into other Ancients and people in stasis, including their own Dr. Weir. They have even encountered unascended Ancients in stasis, such as aboard the Aurora. This was combined with another trope, the heavy use of Terran mythology, with Ancients and Lanteans having a decided European focus: Janus, Atlas, Sigrid (possibly a Norse connection), Merlin, Morgan LaFey, etc, rather than the cultures chosen to influence by the Asgard, Goa'uld, or the Ori. For development, I wanted a story that would involve someone without power, or left behind, that could be retold and inflated as the myth is told through the lens of Ancients as legendary heroes and otherworldly, god-like beings, misunderstood by the Tau'ri. Orpheus and Eurydice fit the bill for several reasons. First, it fit the European sphere. Second, it was beloved by Romans, too, and I wanted to play up the Lantean/Latin language connection. Third, she would not be the main character or hero in the original myth, but the MacGuffin, leaving character development open. Lastly, the motivation and themes in the story were clear (love, overcoming death, rescue, odds/fate, and a good dose of hubris), there was a convertible villain, and the relationships and details could be changed.
So whats the adaptation? The backstory? Orpheus left his Eurydice behind in what he thought of as hell, a fitting tragedy for those torn apart by the move back to the Milky Way, with Orpheus wracked by the guilt of leaving someone behind, left to the perils of the Wraith, abandoned and alone. While horrible to be a love, I thought it would be even worse if it was a child. Make Orpheus a medical man, a reason for him to patronize and look up to Apollo, and have him be brilliant but ultimately unable to save his family. His wife, name unknown, was clearly dead and could be mourned for in time, but the true grief would be for the child that should have been at his side. A horrible injury or illness inflicted by the Wraith would also explain the need for stasis or healing pre-sarcophagus/regeneration technology... unfortunately not quick enough. Eurydice was rescued from the Wraith, but ultimately, she was left behind. Was it any better? To Orpheus, it would be just as bad, just as hellish as handing her back to the Wraith.
Character Background
This is the background "truth" of the story as adapted for Stargate: Underground, though parts may entirely be spoilers.
Set the scene at the end of the Lanteans' time in Pegasus. They are retreating to Atlantis, leaving their few remaining worlds and outposts as the Wraith advance. These are the final days. They will hold out for some time in the City itself, but that retreat is the moment of concern. For men like Orpheus, getting as many people as possible into the safety of Atlantis would be their prime concern, making sure they are healthy and unharmed. It would be a hands on mission for him, his colleagues, and their family. They would become essentially aid workers for the colonies, though Orpheus would keep his dreams of research and personal scientific quests running in the background of his labs both on and off Atlantis, working towards the same goals of perfection and Ascension as many of his colleagues.
The family traveled, spending much of their time on Helias, a regional and developed colony, coming back to Atlantis only on occasion. The collapse of Helias was sudden, and Eurydice, just a young teen at the time, went forward to help with the evacuation. She tried to find her mother, going against her father's wishes to keep her out of harm's way. While the Wraith were easily held off, some of the Helians were captured, including mother and daughter. Perhaps this is when her mother dies, perhaps not.
The Wraith do not just suck life, but have the ability to transfer that life force back, restoring their victim. This gives the victim a feeling of ecstasy and leads to feeding/giving as both an effective torture tool and a way to recruit followers. Being young, and hopefully easily influenced, the Wraith tried this technique on Eurydice and kept her aboard a near vessel, planning an attack to wipe out Helias; the initial attack was merely a ploy for recon. Meanwhile, a distraught Orpheus joined the team willing to go after the Wraith rather than wait for them to come back and attack Helias, her population, and her refugees. He signed up as a medical officer, determined to find and rescue his family. Unfortunately, his wife was gone, and his daughter was hanging on by a thread- even though one can be fed on and survive, many die simply from the shock to their body or life. Eurydice may have been restored, but she was dwindling from repetitive feedings and pure degraded will to live.
Orpheus raced his daughter back to his lab on Helias, placing her in a stasis chamber programmed to repair the damage inflicted by the Wraith and to restore her life force, using his research to its greatest potential. With the Wraith incoming, and Helias ordered to evacuate, but Eurydice still neither healed nor awake, he moved the stasis chamber underground, and set it to cycle the healing programming and take power directly from the planet's ZPMs. He was then forced to leave, and watched the buildings crumble to ruin behind him. He had all hopes and intentions to return until Atlantis was sunk, truce failed, and the remaining Lanteans were forced to leave Atlantis for Earth.
Orpheus gave up medicine but continued to seek Ascension, realizing that Ascension would be the only way to return to Pegasus and learn the true fate of his family. Unfortunately, if he did so, he would not be able to interfere or help his daughter. Wracked by guilt, he wandered. Orpheus' tale is finished in myth and as he lamented the tale of his wife and daughter, the two became conflated for the ease of storytelling. The myths say he was killed but continued to sing. The truth? Who knows.
Eurydice's stasis chamber continued to cycle, healing her over and over across the millennia until the networked ZPMs for Helias ran dry. Unlike Atlantis, Helias had no shields to maintain, just one teenage girl and a few crystals, and were not near failure. When the power hit a critical level, Eurydice's chamber opened, and she awoke, aged barely a few years older, starving, confused, and soon to be in the dark. She had some resources in the area that survived buried with her in her 10,000 year old tomb, and emerged to find the world of Helias completely changed.
Living on Helias became untenable, and Eurydice had to learn what had become of her people and the other humans in Pegasus. She unearthed what supplies were still usable from her tomb, including the hoverbike, and took to the Stargate. She became a solo traveller, often trading or repairing small items or using her ATA gene and friendly nature to help more faithful, non-industrialized people as a "good witch" in exchange for a kind word, warm meal, and place to stay the night. She used a name she picked up from the locals on Helias to hide her own. The question always remained what to do now, and where to go, with all her people (or so she believed) gone.
She was traveling like this as a way of existence when she caught word of people coming from "The City of the Ancestors." Eurydice became determined to find them and learn who and what they were, and if they were friendly. Rumor was that they were helping others and forming trade alliances, though they were armed and had a clear military side. They were fighting the Wraith, the Genii, and others. Eurydice became determined. She was eating in a common marketplace when she heard the Stargate activate, and looked up to see a unusual group clad in grey and black with unusual gear and weaponry. It was Pandavi's 11th Atlantis Recon, and Eurydice dropped everything to follow them.
Trivia
- Eurydice's photo is of actress Pascale Hutton playing First Officer Trebal in S02 E09: Aurora. The entire crew of the Aurora is deceased as of the end of the episode, and she visually matches the character sketch for Eurydice (other than a badass long coat) so... mazel tov! The actress has been rehired!
- The on-screen prop for the life signs detector appears to be an HP IPAQ 5555 in a special acrylic case.