Part 1

Excitement and anxiety mix as preperations get underway...

The planet has been shattered long enough for new styles of normalcy to unfold, the tear between those who find adjustment easier to accept than others is clear amongst the population. One of the larger hurdles to tackle was the means of transportation between large shards of the once-whole planet focused on vehicles, magic, and technology that aided in the means of crossing the empty expanses between. With the links between the previously connected lands in place, the next larger hurdle comes with the curiosity of what had unfolded to spark such a change in environment. 

The Core planet below looms below, coated in its glistening oceans of ichor and bleached bone-like metal lands. The sudden knowledge of its existence generates a large sum of curiosity and worry for those floating above, unsure how close the threat of ichor truly is as it lingers. 

The talk of exploration for information gathering had been abundant even after the initial fracturing, though gathering groups had not been an official task anyone dared take on at the time. Not everyone was keen to the idea, but those with adventurous hearts found their means of starting to gather people and tools to do so with the least amount of threat possible. Small groups who had organized well enough had gone down and quickly come back up, telling tales of the bizarre lands, flora, and fauna they had witnessed without even yet stepping foot on ground. 
It aroused enough curiosity to warrant official efforts to form guilds of people experienced with crossing wilds of Skire and elsewhere to take on the mantle of guides. Those who are good at physical or magical combat or are knowledgeable in efforts to study and gather find a good mixture in these such groups. 

A particular researcher in the field, Silven Tone, found himself quite eager to be a part of as many explorations as possible. Many only knew of him as a holed-up ichor enthusiast, but little else was ever shared. Now it seems he’s eager to share what he has studied, and even more enthusiastic to get further samples and testing done with samples ideally picked up by himself and others.

Your guide has advised you to take precautions to the highest degree. The planet below is nothing but hostile towards everyone and everything, and you are not exactly able to avoid that hostility. You’re given a shopping list of things that can be useful to get, build, or generally bring along. You and the others planning to head down need to set out and get what best suits your personal needs now, priority on safety above all else. 

The rumors and tales being shared about the core planet seem disastrous at all ends, but the potential boon of bringing back helpful information for research is too hard to resist. Who knows what sort of creation could be made with the help of this work?

For now, the hunt is on for what will leave you best prepared for the unexpected and potential worst. Not to mention what could help you along the way!