The Exile Planet
Der Exil-Planet
Plot Summary
Schön-Duft and Hell-Blüte, two Buds of the Tree in exile, receive a warning call from the Sleep Guardian of Last Sleep, a planet used as a "Dream Prison" for the Renegades. They set out in their Nutrient Capsule Ferry to investigate, discovering that the Sleep Guardian has been deactivated and the Renegades are awakening. Meanwhile, on Last Sleep, Mehr-Blatt, the leader of the Renegades, awakens her followers and prepares to escape, sensing the approach of the Buds and a Collector ship.
A group of Terranauts, including David terGorden and Narda, are trapped within the Dream Place, a plant conglomerate that forms the Sleep Guardian. They realize the Renegades have awakened and try to escape. They are attacked by a Renegade Bud, but David manages to repel it. They try to contact Aura Damona Mar, an Oracle aboard the Collector, for rescue.
Aura Damona Mar, trapped within the Collector, senses the danger and urges the ship's quasi-intelligent control center to land on Last Sleep to rescue her friends. The Collector descends, despite its fear of the Renegades. The Terranauts, led by David and Narda, navigate the treacherous landscape, encountering hostile native life forms and the pursuing Renegades. A group of the Terranauts are captured and possessed by the Renegades.
Schön-Duft and Hell-Blüte arrive on Last Sleep as the planet is on the brink of destruction due to the Renegades' activation of a Far Jump Channel, which is causing an entropy outbreak. Hell-Blüte dies in the landing, and Schön-Duft is left alone. She encounters David and Onnegart Vangralen, who have survived a fall into a chasm. Schön-Duft reveals that David is the "Bearer of the Monochord" and needs his help. Together, they confront the Renegades, who have possessed the remaining Terranauts. Schön-Duft sacrifices herself to initiate a metamorphosis in the Renegades, transforming them back into a World Tree and averting the immediate catastrophe. Aura Damona Mar regains control of the Collector, and David and the surviving Terranauts depart Last Sleep, heading for the "Old Forest" to uncover the truth about David's destiny.
Key Events
- 01 Schön-Duft and Hell-Blüte receive a warning call from the Sleep Guardian of Last Sleep.
- 02 The Buds discover the Sleep Guardian has been deactivated and the Renegades are awakening.
- 03 Mehr-Blatt awakens the Renegades and prepares to escape.
- 04 David terGorden and the Terranauts are trapped in the Dream Place and realize the Renegades have awakened.
- 05 Aura Damona Mar urges the Collector to land on Last Sleep to rescue her friends.
- 06 The Terranauts are attacked by a Renegade Bud, but David repels it.
- 07 The Collector lands on Last Sleep.
- 08 Hell-Blüte dies in the landing.
- 09 David and Onnegart Vangralen fall into a chasm but survive.
- 10 Schön-Duft encounters David and reveals he is the "Bearer of the Monochord".
- 11 The Renegades possess the remaining Terranauts.
- 12 Schön-Duft and David confront the Renegades.
- 13 Schön-Duft sacrifices herself to initiate a metamorphosis in the Renegades.
- 14 Aura Damona Mar regains control of the Collector.
- 15 David and the surviving Terranauts depart Last Sleep, heading for the "Old Forest".
Characters
Schön-Duft — A Bud of the Tree who sets out to Last Sleep to prevent the awakening of the Renegades. She sacrifices herself to initiate a metamorphosis in the Renegades.
Hell-Blüte — A Bud of the Tree and companion of Schön-Duft. She dies during the landing on Last Sleep.
Mehr-Blatt — The leader of the Renegades, seeking to escape Last Sleep and find the Great Mother.
David terGorden — A Terranaut and the "Heir of Power" and "Bearer of the Monochord," destined to play a role in the Long Row.
Narda — A Terranaut and Dragon Witch, traveling with David. She is briefly possessed by the Renegades.
Aura Damona Mar — An Oracle trapped within the Collector, who helps the ship land and ultimately rescues the Terranauts.
Onnegart Vangralen — A Terranaut traveling with David.
Ennerk Prime — A Terranaut traveling with David.
Ariane terWilson — A Terranaut traveling with David.
Aschan Herib — A Terranaut traveling with David.
Suzanne Oh — A Terranaut traveling with David.
Goliath — A Driver traveling with David. He is briefly possessed by the Renegades.
Zwei-Blüte — A Renegade and child of Mehr-Blatt.
Kadir — A Kontakter from the native species of Last Sleep, who blames the Terranauts for the planet's destruction.
Locations
Last Sleep — A planet used as a "Dream Prison" for the Renegades. It is on the brink of destruction due to the Renegades' actions.
Dream Place — A plant conglomerate that forms the Sleep Guardian on Last Sleep.
Nutrient Capsule Ferry — The ship used by Schön-Duft and Hell-Blüte to travel to Last Sleep.
Collector — A massive plant ship used by the Terranauts, which lands on Last Sleep to rescue them.
Traumstatt — A location within the Dream Place.
Far Jump Channel — A device that allows for travel to other dimensions, but its activation causes an entropy outbreak.
Old Forest — The destination of David and the surviving Terranauts, where they will find answers to their questions.
Ships & Vehicles
Nutrient Capsule Ferry — Used by Schön-Duft and Hell-Blüte to travel to Last Sleep.
Collector — A massive plant ship containing Aura Damona Mar and used to rescue the Terranauts.
Himmelsstürmer — The Hurricane Sailer, a smaller ship attached to the Collector.
Technology & Concepts
Buds of the Tree — Beings tasked with maintaining balance in the galaxy and preventing entropy catastrophes.
Renegades — Buds of the Tree who have deviated from their original purpose and seek to return to the Great Mother through destructive means.
Sleep Guardian — A plant conglomerate that forms a Dream Prison for the Renegades on Last Sleep.
Dream Prison — A state of suspended animation in which the Renegades are kept, preventing them from causing harm.
Far Jump Channel — A device that allows for travel to other dimensions, but its activation causes an entropy outbreak.
Entropy Accumulation — A concentration of entropy-accelerating forces that threatens to destroy worlds.
Metamorphosis — A process by which the Renegades can be transformed back into a World Tree, averting the entropy catastrophe.
Bearer of the Monochord — A title given to David terGorden, indicating his destiny and connection to the Long Row.
Long Row — A network of World Trees that maintains balance in the galaxy.
PSI-Pillow — A cushion of psionic energy used for levitation.
All-Life Root — A network of roots that connects all living things.
Silent Voice — A form of telepathic communication.
Neutral Bubble — A field of energy that protects against dissolving forces.
Transfer — The ability to move through solid objects.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the struggle between order and chaos. The tone is melancholic and urgent, reflecting the impending destruction of Last Sleep and the characters' desperate attempts to avert it. The narrative style is descriptive and introspective, focusing on the characters' inner thoughts and feelings as they confront their destinies.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the origins of the Buds of the Tree and the Renegades.
Leads into: David's journey to the Old Forest and the unveiling of his destiny. The fate of the Long Row and the Second World remains uncertain.
Related booklets: Booklets focusing on the history of Equilibrium, the Long Row, and the Steerers.
```