Waking The Curator Standing before the pedestal, Polonius and Penelope gaze up at the figure bathed in blue, flickering light. They are unsure if the figure is just ornamental, a simple statue paying homage to some long-dead scholar, or if it has another purpose. Rather than linger in the library, they decide to continue exploring the campus. As they turn to go, a deep voice, accented with low-level modulation distortion, says: "Do not leave, yet, Polonius and Penelope. We have much to discuss." The figure moves forward, through the edge of the light column, sets the open tome in its hand on one of the nearby book piles, and slowly steps off the pedestal. No longer shrouded in the blue column of light, the figure's features become clear. Beneath the shadow of a heavy fabric hood, two glowing red eyes sit in deep, hollow sockets above a sharp, angular jawline. A glint of metal is caught as the figure's head raises to take in the two interlopers. The faint sound of metal on metal and whirring of servos is discernible as it moves. "You're real?' asks Polonius, incredulous. The figure laughs, a sound like one steel plate grinding against another, and says: "Yes, Polonius, I am quite real. As real as you and Penelope." "How do you know our names?" asks Penelope. "I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now, Penelope. A friend told me you would be in need of my assistance. So, here we are." "Who are you?" asks Polonius. Raising its arms, palms out in a gesture of welcome, the figure answers: "I am the Curator and this is the Academy of Forgotten Arts and Sciences." #Steampunk #TheAirshipAndalusia #LandOfDustAndShadow