SOPHONT-FORGE April Contest Entry

A strong wind snatches up swirls of snow, whipping it over the frozen wasteland that no foot has ever touched. Ever since the sun set over these lands millions of years ago and never rose again, the only thing moving here is the wind and snow. Hand in hand, they have reshaped the face of these lands. Where there once was a lush garden eden with oceans, forests, mountains and animals, there is now an almost flat surface. Only cliffs that drop off away from the equator have remained but even they are slowly being ground down by the wind. It is the undisputed ruler of these lands, rushing over everything in its path, sweeping it away. There is only one thing that blocks the ruler’s stride, makes it take a detour - the monolithic Obelisks.

Reaching up to 500 meters into the air, these humongous beings have been standing sentinel in the eternal night ever since it began and none of them has ever left their post or fell since their watch began. Their black bodies withstand even the strongest attacks their opponent can muster. Buried deep in the ice, they grow around geothermal hot springs, taking in nutrients and minerals from their steamy thrones. But despite their motionless existence, they are anything but lazy. Every single one of these silicon-based giants is in constant contact with each other. Constantly thinking and communicating, relentlessly transmitting thoughts through a biological, telepathic interweb, they form one giant network. One mind in many bodies...

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