# Ancient Relics

## Small Artefacts

### Thazakto Officer's Badge
*An embellished badge as originally worn by an officer of the Imperial Colonisation Commission. It's in remarkably good shape given it's been under ash for a few centuries.*

*Further information:
The Imperial Colonisation Commission is the Tiziran Empire's central authority for colonial ventures.
As a uniformed branch of service, the Commission also has ranks, generally denoted by badges rather than the more traditional stripes of the armed forces.
This badge denotes a Junior Officer, a position which can carry a broad range of duties within the ICC.
Junior Officers can handle everything from settlement management, to navigation, to scientific ventures, depending on their specific qualifications, making up the majority of the officers aboard a colonial vessel.*

### Commemorative Tiziran Rena
*A commemorative coin celebrating the launch of the Thazakto on its journey into the world of FTL flight. One face is marked with the crest of the Imperial Colonisation Commission and a stylised design of the Thazakto, while the other face bares a side relief of Emperor Delan-Rena IV.*

*Further information:
The Tiziran Rena is the official currency of the Tiziran Empire.")]"
Typical examples of coins from the Empire will feature a small emblem on the front of the coin, and a silhouette of the reigning monarch on the reverse.
This coin, however, is a commemorative edition, issued in expectation of the launch of the ICS Thazakto, Lizardkind's first FTL-capable vessel.
Following the disappearance of the Thazakto, many of these coins were recollected by the Imperial Mint and destroyed to save face.
This has given surviving examples (such as this one) significant value on the antiques market.*

### Imperial Arsenal MX-14 Pistol
*A pistol made by Imperial Arsenal on Tizira. This model is still in production, although this particular MX-14 is outdated by around 2 centuries. Presumably it came here with the Thazakto.*

*Further information:
The IAMX-14 is the standard issue pistol of the Tiziran armed forces, and has been for centuries.
Produced by Imperial Arsenal, the weapon has grown to become somewhat of a symbol of the Empire itself, as one adorns the chest of almost every soldier in the Imperial military.
Typically chambered for 11mm Imperial rounds, the base model has spawned a number of variants, including 10mm models for export to the Human market.
This particular pistol bears the markings of the Imperial Colonisation Commission, and would likely have been the weapon of a colonist. Unfortunately now, however, it's caked with so much dust and detritus that it will likely never fire again.*

### Tiziran Burial Ossuary
*A small, relatively unadorned casket, designed to hold bones. This would presumably have been used to a colonist that perished aboard the Thazakto prior to transport back to Tizira for proper burial, as is Imperial custom. Thankfully, it's empty, so there's no risk of getting cursed from taking it.*

*Further information:
Tiziran burial rites are a complicated affair, owing to the planet's traditional religion being strongly tied to Tizira itself.
A strong emphasis is placed on reverance for ancestors. To forget an ancestor is to consign them to darkness, away from Rizkalon's guiding light.
For this reason, devout followers will be buried in the Rizkalon system, specifically in massive ossuaries purpose built for interring bones. The largest is in Zagoskeld.
Obviously, this raises logistical questions- how exactly do you take reconcile this with a large space empire? The answer comes in the form of the Tomb Ship: a massive mobile ossuary, that carries the bones back to Rizkalon for proper burial.
Humanity's first contact with Lizardkind was via a Tomb Ship, with the human wayfinders being mortified to discover a drifting vessel carrying the bones of several thousand lizards.*

### Ashwalker Lunar Fetish
*A small rock carved with Draconic script, though in a notably old-fashioned way.*

*Further information:
Though the Ashwalkers obviously share little resemblance with their civilised cousins these days, this was clearly not always the case.
This small rock seems to have carried some degree of religious significance, if the carved script is anything to go by: it seems to try and reconcile the Gods of the Tiziran pantheon with the Necropolis.
Such a stunning display of heresy carries interesting implications. The transition period between civilised colonists and savage monsters must have been a confusing one, and it makes sense that rationalisation of the situation would invite religious discussion.*

### Ancient Atrakor Pendant
*A little rusted steel necklace, depicting Atrakor, Lord of the Night Sky, in full illumination- a classic symbol of strength in the Tiziran pantheon.*

*Further information:
Atrakor is Tizira's primary moon, and has, like many celestial bodies in (and outwith) the Rizkalon system, become a god within the Tiziran religion.
More specifically, Atrakor, the Night Sky Lord, is one of the primary deities within the Tiziran religion. His cult has the honour of being the third most followed within the Empire, behind those of Rizkalon, and Tizira herself.
In the pantheon, Atrakor represents military might, chivalry, honour, duty, and acts as the shepherd and guardian of the souls of the dead. He is traditionally associated with the Imperial family as a result.
An interesting note regarding Atrakor's depiction in pieces such as this is the omission of his signature scar. While this piece predates the bombing of Atrakor, many made afterwards also do not depict the scar.
The choice of steel as a material over the more traditionally regal materials such as silver or gold may confuse someone more used to human society, but this is a common choice in Tiziran craftsmanship due to the material's association with martial strength- even the Imperial crown atop the Empress' head is crafted primarily of steel.*

### Soviet Skimmer Drone
*An old drone from the days of the Late Spinward Rush, marked with the insignia of the Third Soviet Union*

*Further information:
The history of the Spinward Sector can be broadly divided into three categories- the Spinward Rush, the Soviet Period, and the Coalition Period.
This drone dates from the Spinward Rush, but obviously bears the insignia of the Third Soviet Union, placing its date of origin sometime in the transition between the two.
Drones of this type were sent out by the Soviet Government in order to survey the Spinward Sector in a rapid manner. This allowed them to pinpoint key routes of expansion without expending precious manpower.
Unfortunately, as proven by this specimen's presence here on the surface of Indecipheres, they clearly weren't foolproof. This one was almost certainly fried by the hostile conditions here. While that's a shame for the Soviet brass, it probably saved a lot of miners' lives.*

### Ritual Skull
*An ancient and cracked alien skull, crusted with dried blood. It probably had some religious significance to the natives.*

*Further Information:
We know very little of the native peoples of Lavaland, but what they've left behind gives tantalising clues to the nature of their lives, society, and perhaps most importantly, religion.
This skull in particular is probably of religious significance. The skull is similar to those of natives found before, but it bears the obvious marks of a violent death, particularly a large crack from the eye socket to the jaw. It's also been carved with runic lettering that has regretfully become too worn to read.
It seems likely that whoever owned this skull was killed in some form of ritual sacrifice, and a particularly brutal one. As to what significance sacrifice held to the natives, that isn't clear from this piece.*

### GameGo Pocket
*An old-school Gamego Pocket, one of Shimoku's classic portable consoles.*

*Further Information:
The Gamego was one of Shimoku's most popular game consoles some 500 years ago, during the 1990s- which makes it particularly amazing to find it here, lightyears from Earth, and in recognisable condition.
Obviously, it's not going to be playing Capsimals or Super Giuseppe Land these days (the memory on the cartridges would have failed centuries ago, even if the console was functional), but the item itself stands as a memento of a very different time for humanity.
When this console rolled off the production line in Japan, the first parts of the ISS were just being launched. Now, 500 years on, we have to wonder if the kids who played on this had any idea what the future would hold.*

### Signed Baseball
*A baseball signed by the New Osaka Woodpeckers, victors of the 2430 Sol Series.*

### ICS Thazakto Colonist's Canteen
*A small pewter canteen designed to hold water, engraved with the crest of the Imperial Colonisation Commission, originally carried by a Tiziran colonist aboard the Thazakto.*

## Large Artefacts
### TMSF Yeniçeri Hardlight Blade
*An ancient gas-powered hardlight sword, made some 300 years ago in Turkey. How exactly it ended up in the frontier is anyone's guess.*

*Further Information:
The history of hardlight technology is longer and more storied than most people think. While many believe it is a uniquely modern technology, humanity has been experimenting with it since at least the 2100s, and has had commercial examples available since the 2200s.
This 'Yeniçeri' sword is an example of such an early commercial design. Built in Turkey by Kahraman Heavy Industries during the 2250s, the blade represented a major leap forward in usable hardlight tech.
Via the use of an innovative (for the time) gas-sustained blade, the Yeniçeri was able to hold a consistent cutting edge with minimal flickering, although at the cost of needing its gas refilled for every few hours of use.
Despite its impressive tech, the Yeniçeri failed to gain commercial success. Most examples were sold to explorers and wayfarers beginning the long trek to new star systems, with military trials generally leaving governments unimpressed.
Fortunately, however, the innovations it made didn't go unnoticed by engineers, and its technology would pave the way for future advancements in hardlight tech- now commonly used across all walks of engineering.*

### Necrotic Slab
*An ancient slab from the Necropolis. It's covered in tiny needles, and channels for blood.*

*Further Information:
As with many relics from the Necropolis and its surrounding areas, this item does not conform to any style of architecture or design from any known people of the galaxy.
Despite its odd construction, however, it is not hard to guess at the purpose of this piece. Between the carving metal spikes, ancient staining, and channels to carry blood, this table was almost certainly used as a sacrificial altar.
As for what the sacrifices were being made for, or to whom they were dedicated, we can only guess.*

### Terintan Chitin Spear
*A relic of the extinct Terintan people, this spear is crafted from chitin, presumably from a beast native to their homeworld.*

*Further Information:
The Terintan people may be long extinct, but their culture lives on in what they left behind. Between arenas, artwork, and weapons like this, we can deduce that these hulking bugpeople had a strong martial society.
Common to most Terintan relics is their materials of choice for construction. Although metal does feature sparingly, the workhorse material amongst their craftsmen, even in items that clearly required industrial processes, was a strong chitin.
Nobody is quite sure what creature gave the chitin for this purpose.*