Abandoned Observation Outpost

The abandoned observation post above … appears to have been repurposed shortly before it was abandoned. Though there is equipment to surveil the inhabitants of the planet in evidence, most of it seems to be dedicated to a museum of Charynoi history. Curiously for such a warlike species, subjects relating to violence seem to have been avoided, and exhibits appear to show various rituals of peace and fertility.

A series of data crystals have been left in the control room. It is evident that we were supposed to find them.

The first crystal has been translated. It is prefaced with the words "This is the record of the Charynoi people, left behind by the Prophetess Ithikarios, so that those who might find it may forgive us our sins."

What follows is a collection of historical, philosophical and artistic works as may have been created by a fairly standard, if somewhat belligerent, late industrial society. Our … have sent it back to … for further analysis.

"Now I shall recount where it all went wrong - where we first fell to the sin of arrogance," declaims Ithikarios.

The second crystal recounts how the Charynoi gradually uncovered the mysteries of space flight, seemingly about a hundred years before the …. They found two beautiful planets in their own system, and concluded that those had been bequeathed to them by the Gods as their birthright, which they were now claiming.

In horrified tones, Ithikarios recounts the darker side to these early exploits: nascent civilizations on their new colonies had not willingly yielded their homes. Beaten into submission, they were enslaved and eventually dwindled, falling to diseases the Charynoi did not care to cure.

Our … are hard at work translating the third and final data crystal.

"Eventually, we exhausted the confines of the space we had been bequeathed. We knew of the existence of the Wormhole, but it defied our study. Our realm was so bountiful, so full of beauty, that it was not hard to convince ourselves that we were the Chosen. That the Wormhole was a test, and once we were worthy, it would be our Holy Purpose to spread our kind across all the galaxy.

"I was once chief amongst those seeking to fulfill this duty. When inspiration came to me - when I realized I held the key to the opening of the Wormhole - I prayed for days at the Shrine of my Ancestors. And eventually: Revelation. We were not worthy. If we went beyond the Wormhole, we would find only pain. Aspharelle would be scoured, out of punishment for the crimes we had committed. I resolved to destroy my research and seek a different path.

"It was hard to find those who I could trust. If we were discovered, we would surely have longed for a quick death. Though I am more convinced than ever that we are right, we would have been seen as apostates. Eventually, we launched a daring plan: under the guise of making a fool attempt to fly the wormhole blind, we built an arkship to sail into the unknown, towards a distant star. Many years, we traveled through empty space, until we came to our destination. Now we wish nothing more than to be left in peace to live virtuous lives, so that we may prove that not all Charynoi are evil."

Apologizing profusely for any harm done to us by her brethren, Ithikarios mentions her attempts at erecting an impenetrable shield around …, so that her people would never again be tempted to seek the stars. She failed, but our … have been able to work out where she went wrong. We could erect the shield now, if we so desire.