Mesektet

Overview

Mesektet, also known as the Night Barque, is one of two flagship vessels that patrolled the Asgarthan Protectorate alongside Mandjet, the Day Barque. The ship features an edged profile and served as a mobile defense platform for the Ordis faction, carrying Alterers and Tagmata troops to repel The Tumult and defend against creatures riding its currents.

The Crash (~340 AC)

The Night Barque was lost during an incursion by Cingula, a Leviathan that regularly harasses the peninsula. Unlike Mandjet, which survived with damage, Mesektet crashed within The Tumult in the Irundu region of Caer Oorun province, approximately 150 miles from Arkaster.

Madelyn Moss, a scientist specializing in Chimera research, was aboard Mesektet to test an invention when the ship went down. She died in an explosion on the ship’s scientific bridge. Her husband Bai Shan-shu, whose Tagmata squadron escorted the mothership, used Zephyr’s abilities to save many crew members, earning the Purple Star for his heroism.

Decades later, on his deathbed, Shan-shu confessed to his daughter Zhen that he had caused the Mesektet’s crash and was responsible for all the deaths. The admiralty sealed all records concerning the incident.

The Wreck

The ship crashed nose-first into a mountainside with stern protruding and debris trailing down the slope. The command deck was partially preserved but half-claimed by jungle vegetation, with the communications room overrun by roots and granite outgrowths. Crew casualties were found in various states—crystallized, mineralized, or overgrown—with humanoid forms fused with plant and stone at consoles. The black box was missing from the cockpit compartment.

During investigation, granite formations on the command deck were initially misidentified as evidence of betrayal, but Nosk corrected this through Coalescence—roots had shifted the formations and what appeared to be a blade was geological protrusion. The admiralty has sealed records of what was discovered in the wreckage.

Recovery Operations (392 AC)

In November 392 AC, Gulrang Oduro led an Ordis expedition through Irundu forest to locate the crashed vessel. Nosk broadcast the discovery through The Gestalt.

On November 18, 392 AC, Waru Toowoom examined pre-Confluence city ruins in Irundu, though Ordis dignitaries prioritized securing Mesektet over archaeological research. On December 11, 392 AC, Waru traveled with dignitaries to join Axiom forces at the crash site. Admiral Temera Singh insisted on a security escort.

The Aerolith core had been severely damaged, making the vessel unlikely to be operational for weeks. Recovery was broadcast through The Gestalt for propaganda purposes.

393 AC - Refit and Alteration Maintenance

Sylas assessed Mesektet’s damage as minor, declaring the vessel available to join the Rediscovery Endeavor alongside The Ouroboros, The Wayfarer, and Mandjet. Technicians at the City of Scholars outpost began studying the turbines to determine feasibility of converting to a Kelon-Sap fuel mix. Kaaba assigned Gulrang Oduro to maintain the ship as a remote headquarters using Alteration, simulating dormitories, mess halls, and armories, with Tocsin channeling Mana from distant sources to sustain the effort.

393 AC, January - Expeditionary Fleet Launch

Mesektet led the Asgarthan armada under Amiens’ command during the fleet launch to investigate a pillar of light signal over The Tumult. The Night Barque’s dark hull appeared to absorb light that touched it. Zhen observed the ship rise from the clouds, identifying it as the site where her mother died and where sealed records of the conspiracy are stored.

393 AC, October - The Turmoil Crossing

Mesektet served as one of the four main shielded ships traversing The Turmoil, constantly escorting The Ouroboros and The Wayfarer alongside Mandjet. The Night Barque sustained only minor degradation from mutagenic winds due to its effective shielding.

393 AC - Arrival at Asty

Mesektet was among the five vessels armed and prepared to fire during first contact with the Reka people at Asty, alongside The Ouroboros, Mandjet, AES Horizon, and Tempest.

Relationships

• Amiens: Rear Admiral commanding Mesektet during the fleet launch (393 AC)
• Axiom: Faction that reached crash site ahead of Ordis forces
• Bai Shan-shu: Tagmata officer who saved crew during crash; later confessed to causing the tragedy
• Caer Oorun: Province containing the Irundu crash site
• Cingula: Leviathan whose incursion caused Mesektet’s crash
• Gulrang Oduro: Led discovery expedition (392 AC); maintains ship through Alteration (393 AC)
• Irundu: Region containing the crash site valley
• Kaaba: Ordis Templar who assigned Gulrang to maintain Mesektet as remote HQ (393 AC)
• Madelyn Moss: Scientist who died in explosion on scientific bridge (~340 AC)
• Mandjet: Sister ship, the Day Barque
• Nosk: Communications officer who broadcast discovery through The Gestalt
• Sylas: Yzmir mage who proposed using Mesektet in aerial bypass plan (393 AC)
• Temera Singh: Admiral who insisted on security escort
• The Reka: Civilization encountered at Asty; Mesektet was armed during first contact (393 AC)
• Tocsin: Gulrang Oduro’s Alter Ego who channels Mana for Alteration maintenance (393 AC)
• Tong: Associated with recovery operations
• Waru Toowoom: Traveled to crash site for assessment (392 AC)
• Zephyr: Chimera whose abilities Shan-shu used during rescue
• Zhen: Daughter of Madelyn and Shan-shu; investigating the crash conspiracy