Interesting concept! So basically, it turns out that the Sky Ones didn't build the Balls, they just found them lying around the Galaxy? And does the final twist mean that the true forms of the Ancients turn out to be smoke beings?

引用自 PluMGMK：

Interesting concept! So basically, it turns out that the Sky Ones didn't build the Balls, they just found them lying around the Galaxy? And does the final twist mean that the true forms of the Ancients turn out to be smoke beings?

Thanks for indulging me

I may be wrong about the Balls being found, not made, by the Sky Ones. Balls could have been placed strategically where developing 'vector species' like the Sky Ones will eventually run into them (shades of '2001 a Space Odyssey' I guess).

Probably some text will show up that trashes this idea (another one bites the dust)

Meanwhile, my theory about the nasty smoke beings is they're failed attempts at Psionic Ascension rituals, due to using candidates with impure Ancient One's DNA.

The Ancient One's true form as uber-psionics, I'd guess, must also be somewhat ethereal. But more wholesome looking and less psychotic acting than what we've seen so far.

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Little bit more plot:
After your C7 buddy ascends successfully, and blows away the Sky Ones baddies, the Hero may call into question the whole Ancient One's self-resurrection project.

After all, completing it involved the exploitation at least three races (Sky Ones included), the destruction of two, and untold individual suffering on several planets (Ends vs Means controversy).

Distrust of Ancient Ones dodgy ethics and untold power might be enough to keep the Colonists moving on to find a safer planet. Particularly if they're offered the dubious role the Sky Ones formerly had.

Taking one of those balls of dark-matter giant Nbbler poop from off the beach might help power them on their way.

I actually like the idea that they found the Balls instead of building them, it would explain why they didn't seem to fully understand them even after they got some up and running. But then why does each one have a nasty smoke monster hiding inside?

As for humans deciding to move on… Civil wars have been fought over less, though maybe the humbling experience of post-Earth history might lead them to decide the sane course of action without too much squabbling!

引用自 PluMGMK：

I actually like the idea that they found the Balls instead of building them, it would explain why they didn't seem to fully understand them even after they got some up and running.

Hopefully that notion remains lore-consistent. I like the implication the Sky One's were really just a 'vector species' being used by the Ancient Ones' life cycle. Takes them down a peg, lol.

引用自 PluMGMK：

But then why does each one have a nasty smoke monster hiding inside?

I think, functionally, they're failed attempts at the (Psionic) Ascension Ritual. caused by using subjects with DNA differing too much from their ancestors, the Ancient Ones.

Sure, these 'sacrifices' end up bristling with psionic power, but their ascension is incomplete and they've become chaotic deranged monsters.

Back now from lunch ...

引用自 PluMGMK：

As for humans deciding to move on… Civil wars have been fought over less, though maybe the humbling experience of post-Earth history might lead them to decide the sane course of action without too much squabbling!

I thought, given the religious angle the Sky Ones liked peddle, the 'Real Thing' might put all that in the shade. The properly ascended Ancient One might manifest as something BIG. power-charged, and AWE-some. Old Testament style.

Full range of possible emotions meeting with a GOD: Shock and Awe.
Full range of possible actions: Flee, or Fall-on-face in supplication

Of course Ancient gods don't suffer mortals easily. So when one says "Humans now gonna take the place of Sky Ones" who's gonna argue?

Our Hero that's who! After all, there's still a memory within that Ancient One of being your besty and all the dungeon crawling you did together!

Ideally I'd like the ending to be the result of a dialogue tree where you get to argue with a God against Godly injustices. If you pick the right dialogue choices, he concedes to your ethics lecture and the human colony ship gets its liberty - barring anyone who wants to stay on, of course (cos you're all about free will remember)

Waddya think?

引用自 Sputnik：

I think, functionally, they're failed attempts at the (Psionic) Ascension Ritual. caused by using subjects with DNA differing too much from their ancestors, the Ancient Ones.

Sure, these 'sacrifices' end up bristling with psionic power, but their ascension is incomplete and they've become chaotic deranged monsters.

So basically, when a Ball is found, it's empty and inactive. Then they (somehow) merge a child with it, and their soul gets trapped inside as a smoke monster and the Ball starts giving limitless energy? Interesting, that would tally with the pictures showing skulls moving between a Ball and a child's head (both Sky One and Galean children IIRC). It also tallies with what the people trapped in Highpoint cave said about "the sick souls within": "Their incarnation slaughtered us, chased us." So then, if the "Ascended" is pure enough, the Ball "hatches" instead of trapping them and they become godlike? Nice…

But then what of the two smoke monsters encountered in Flashpoint Cave? The texts in the monastery and some of the illustrations strongly suggest that the kids were fed directly to these as part of the "Ascensions". Or do you reckon they were originally two Balls that broke after the ritual was performed a certain number of times? The women in the school talked about a device "humming like a congregation" which does indeed sound more like an intact Ball than what Sken actually finds down there…

引用自 Sputnik：

Ideally I'd like the ending to be the result of a dialogue tree where you get to argue with a God against Godly injustices. If you pick the right dialogue choices, he concedes to your ethics lecture and the human colony ship gets its liberty - barring anyone who wants to stay on, of course (cos you're all about free will remember)

Waddya think?

Hmm… And if you pick the wrong choices? I can see gamers getting frustrated by that rather quickly, but it's an interesting concept…

I guess a 'story pitch' like this would need all its kinks ironed out in a series of writers meetings. Then it would get bashed some more to fit with development budgets , and still then some more to fit audience expectations.

So It would probably emerge looking quite a bit different than it went in. But it's fun to pipe-dream!