Atlas of the Ancients
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The Atlas of the Ancients was a plot lasting beginning on 15 October 2009 and concluding on 25 November, with prizes released on 4 December. It featured the return of Roxton A. Colchester III from the Journey to the Lost Isle plot as he travelled with Jordie and Clara Chatham to save Neopia from natural disasters. During their quest, they discovered the underground city of Moltara.
Plot participation didn't involve puzzle solving or fighting Battledome challengers, nor did players acquire plot points. Instead, players earned plot-related items by clicking certain panels in the plot comics, explored the locations the heroes visited, and re-enacted their adventures through certain flash games. The final prizes that were given out varied depending not just on how much of the plot the player completed, but when they completed it: the top prizes were only given out to players who completed each step on the day it was released. This received much criticism, especially as it was not mentioned before prizes were released, and although a similar mechanic was used in site events like the Disappearance of Krawk Island and the Festival of Neggs, it did not return in the next plot.
This was also the first plot to have a Neocash component.
Synopsis
Predicting the onset of increasingly dangerous natural disasters, Master Gnorbu recruits Roxton Colchester and his assistant Jordie to follow the clues in an old tome to save the world. He sent with them his assistant Clara Chatham.
Together, they travelled through hazardous storms to Altador, Faerieland, and Terror Mountain, recovering at each location strange mechanical gadgets. The final clue in the book lead them to an archipelago in the middle of the ocean, where they found an enormous metal door leading down to an underground city called Moltara. The Moltarans explained that they were descended from a mission of scientists, engineers, and mystics who travelled to the centre of Neopia and discovered the planet's core was unstable. They built a core stabilisation unit to counteract this, but the machine had worn down over time and wasn't working as well: this was the cause of the natural disasters.
With the mechanical gadgets they had retrieved and the help of two tribes of Moltarans, they were able to repair the machine and save Neopia. Roxton, Jordie, and Clara returned to the surface, and the Moltarans decided to leave the entrance to their world open to all.
Story
Amidst rumours of fire-breathing monsters roaming the night, Master Gnorbu couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Following the instructions in an old tome, he determined that an adventure must be undertaken that he was too old to make himself. He sent a message to Roxton Colchester, requesting that he come to Shenkuu to lead an expedition that will take him all over Neopia from Shenkuu to Altador, Faerieland, and Terror Mountain. His only requirement was that Roxton take his apprentice Clara with him on the journey. Tempted by the promise of "danger, excitement, and the chance to save the world", he agreed to take her with him. With his assistant Jordie and Master Gnorbu's apprentice, Roxton set off to Altador in order to start solving the mystery.
Renting a flying boat, they set sail for Altador. Although Clara predicted a storm ahead, Roxton refused to divert their heading, trying to save time. The storm was so fierce, however, that they were forced to land and seek refuge in a cave. There were paintings on the walls and ceiling - Roxton explained that they were quite common primitive drawings across Neopia. Some of them depicted fiery Neopets: Clara wondered if they depicted Neopets painted Fire, or creatures like the Flaming Meerca, and if they were related to the fire creature rumour. Their ruminations were cut short when they heard a roar from inside the cave and fled.
The storm had cleared when they arrived at Altador, but sea was still fierce: they had to stop to rescue a fisherman from them. Clara had been studying the book and thought she identified a clue referring the founders of the city. She took them to an observatory and looked for an answer in their constellations, but couldn't find anything. Roxton instead took them to the Hall of Heroes, and discovered a strange mechanical watch at Siyana's statue.
Their next destination was Faerieland, which was surrounded by storm clouds. Jordie was struck by lightning and had to be taken to the Healing Springs. Roxton realised the clue referred to the spring, and seeing one of the pumps was different from the others, he pulled it out. Clara distracted the Healing Springs Faerie while they made their getaway.
They returned to their ship, and Clara found that the pump had some sort of steam-powered mechanism to it. They set course for Terror Mountain, although had to navigate storms, tornadoes, and flying pirates to get there. There they found the ice was beginning to melt. Clara thought she saw one of the fire monsters, but in fact it was a Moltenore, which were normally very rare. Roxton noticed it was carrying a mysterious orchid - flowers they had seen everywhere the book had lead them so far. Realising the clue in the book referred to the Heart of the Mountain, they searched the Ice Caves and found a strange musical instrument encased in ice. Back outside, Jordie tried to play the horn but caused an avalanche that they only escaped by climbing a tree.
Back on the ship, Clara had trouble translating where to go next: the constellation information accompanying the next clue didn't make any sense. Based on the clue, Roxton drew lines between the locations they had been so far and realised they crossed at an unexplored archipelago in the middle of the ocean. They set course for their, but discovered as they got nearer their compass didn't work. Clara recognised a volcano from a picture in the book and knew they were in the right place.
In the archipelago, they discovered an enormous metal door surrounded by more of the mysterious flowers. One of them was metal: Roxton realised it was the key - but if the key was right next to the door, was it meant to keep people out, or something else in? Behind the door was a deep shaft. They parachuted down, finally reaching the bottom near the planet's core, and discovered a hidden underground city.
Roxton rushed down to the city and demanded to see whoever was in charge - all of Neopia was in danger. Cog took him to the Mayor, who explained that long ago, a team of scientists, engineers, and mystics determined that a spate of natural disasters was due to the planet's core, which was unstable. They travelled down to the centre of the planet and built a machine to stabilise it. The team who built the machine remained underground and founded Moltara.
The stabilising machine had worn down over the years and needed replacement parts - Clara realised that the strange gadgets they had been collecting were the parts they needed. Cog used them to repair the machine, and started it running again. Suddenly, a jet of magma burst out of the machine. Cog realised what went wrong but the only way to fix it was to keep the magma out of the way. The Mayor told Roxton that after Moltara had been founded, a group of separatist colonists left them and settled deeper in the caves - he thought they might be able to help them.
Using Cog's mechanical wings, Cog and Roxton travelled over magma rivers until they found the other colony and defeated a magma monster. Igneot explains that he predicted they would need his help, and agrees to return to the others in Moltara, and they returned on the back of a magma-swimming creature. Igneot and his people willed the magma jet away from the machine while the others repaired the pipe. Cog fixed the mechanism and the machine began working again. Neopia was saved.
Igneot announced that his people would return to live with their Neopian bothers, and Moltara remained open to the world. Roxton, Clara and Jordie returned to Master Gnorbu. The stories of fire-breathing Neopets were just stories of Igneot's Magma Neopets, who occasionally visited the surface to forage for supplies. Jordie, meanwhile, was busy showing off his souvenir - the magma-swimming creature from the Moltaran Caverns.
Participation
...to be added...
Neocash Challenges
...to be added...
Prizes
...to be added...
Trivia
- Before the plot began, it was speculated that Lutari Island would be the focus of this plot. This was due to the now defunct Neopets Mobile service (the only way to visit Lutari Island) shutting down, and the Lutari Island page suddenly sporting a new blurb.
- The release of the plot was foreshadowed on 12 October in an e-mail newsletter, saying "The journey begins October 15th. See where it leads...".
External links
- Plot Info: Atlas of the Ancients