Engineers lists all relevant cortex entries of the events and people belonging to the Engineers faction of Bastion, found in the Cortex. This list does not include personal entries involving The Freelancer.
Collection Details
A total of 27 cortex entries make reference to the Engineers.
The following Cortex Entries tell about the Engineers and how they operate and what they do as a Faction.
Arden Vassa (2)
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The feats of design and engineering attributed to Arden Vassa are too improbable to be believed. Are we to accept that one man invented the javelin while hiding in a cave somewhere in the Bastion wilderness? It seems unlikely that the same person could have designed the walls of Antium and the gardens of the Academy, and yet both are attributed to Vassa. It is far more likely Arden Vassa was a group of Arcanists and Engineers whose work has been misattributed.
— From Antium Journal of Archaeology, Arcanist records
Artinia's Gambit (Weapon)
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Just before the Battle of Esterod, Artinia suddenly disappeared from the front lines, leaving the last line of defense dangerously thin and facing superior forces. The remaining defenders desperately prepared a minefield, hoping to slow down the enemy's advance. Shortly after the battle began, Artinia attacked the enemy from behind. Surprised by this strategy, the enemy rushed into the minefield and the resulting mayhem ended in a terrific rout. Her light machine gun has been lost to time, but Arcanist engineers believe this weapon, named in her honor, has almost the same attributes as her original.
Coolant (Ice Flower Sap)
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Coolant is a valuable resource drawn from sap of the rare Ice flower, which only grows in areas of extreme cold.
Ice flower sap is highly volatile in its natural form, making it very dangerous to harvest. In addition to possibly exploding when exposed to air, the sap is also likely to quickly freeze harvesters in their tracks.
Only relatively recently were Engineers and Arcanists able to develop a method to safely stabilize the sap. The resulting coolant has many uses, from preserving food to curing heat stroke; while it's not strictly vital for survival, it does make life in Bastion a little easier.
Elemental Rage (Weapon)
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This rapid-fire rifle's creation is one of the most mystical of the weapons in a Freelancer's arsenal. It is said an Engineer or Forgewright in days of old was repairing a damaged assault rifle when an elemental micro-storm enveloped her forge. When she removed the rifle, it was discovered it had the ability to add power to a javelin's elemental weaponry. This may be one of the earliest instances of utilizing ember for weaponry.
Ember
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A naturally occurring, dangerous by-product of the Anthem, used as a foundation for human technology. While active ember can be found throughout Bastion, it is most bountiful around the Engineer city of Heliost. Legend has it that the urgoth enslaved humanity because the urgoth could not manipulate ember, whereas humans could. Ember is necessary to create the gateway between the human mind and the Anthem and, while excessive exposure to ember can be dangerous, it is often applied to cyphers during their training. If you should find ember in the wild, it can be harvested to craft remarkable weapons and gear.
Engineers (1)
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Skilled mechanics, artisans, architects, and smiths who build, maintain, and repair Bastion's infrastructure. They are based out of Heliost, where they process natural resources, including mineral and ember deposits. Engineers follow the path built by Arden Vassa, creator of the first javelin and designer of most post-Legion architecture. There are two main groups within the Engineers—architects who design blueprints for manufacturing, and mechanics who use those blueprints to build items with the Forge.
Engineers (2)
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In the modern age, many bemoan the lack of ornamentation found in the classical architecture of the Legion. For us, it is a luxury. For our ancestors, a necessity. The scarcity of Arcanist enclaves and the isolation of many settlements made education difficult. Common written language was not widely distributed or taught until the beginning of the Legion Victorious era. The ornate decoration conveyed to the eyes of our forebears much of the information a printed book would today.
— From Antium Journal of Archaeology, Arcanist records
Engineers and Arden Vassa
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Arcanists certainly like to claim Arden Vassa as their own. While he may have started as an Arcanist, it was clearly an Engineer's blood in his veins. An intricate knowledge of machinery and architecture were required to build the first javelin, design the Fortress of Dawn, and support the Legion throughout their battles. Obviously, Arcanists are not the only faction that can be curious and inventive.
— From Heliost Monthly
Forge (2)
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The Engineer worked long into the night, switching between the concentration needed for blueprinting and the rigorous physical labor required for the actual forging. When she grew tired, she remembered the lessons passed on by her father. Though he had long passed, his words, his voice, his laugh, still resonated in the Forge. It was when she was deep in the work that she knew he was still with her.
— From A Strider in the Everweald
Freelancer Enclave: Chaingunner Dalgren's Tools
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Recovered by Freelancer Rythe from an outlaw camp where former Engineer Alata “Chaingunner” Dalgren had built a makeshift forge; she was constructing javelin armor for her band to use against Sentinel patrols.
Rythe left the outlaw forge in pieces too small for the fort Arcanists to study. Dalgren's tools have been released to the Enclave following a thorough examination.
Honor Valley Dam
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In 380, Arcanist Phredies Par came to Fort Tarsis with the daring idea of creating farmland in Honor Valley by diverting some of the water system. With approval from Antium, Par and a team of engineers and architects set forth to build the dam, completing it in 384. Farmers, Arcanists and Sentinels joined forces to plant and maintain the farmland, yielding more crop than most city terraces.
Launch Bay (2)
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Want to know the difference between us and the wild? We care. Because of that, we look out for each other and strive for excellence. This can be seen in the way an engineer polishes a fine javelin. It can be seen in the wares proudly displayed in the market. So for the love of all that makes us human, please clean up after yourself in the Launch Bay!
—Safety Notice from Pirndel Blatch
Mail: Shockbriar to be Planted Around Antium.
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Emperor Dell would like to introduce shockbriar as a new tactic to keep threats away from Antium. Imperator Marjan provided clarification to the Times. "Electrifying the area around Vassa's Lock will hopefully keep curious wildlife away from our walls and provide natural light for those approaching the city at night. The shockbriar's beauty also provides a pleasing sight "
The move has divided public opinion. Landscape engineers are not thrilled, according to Grandar Meek. "Well, it's just dumb. Who is going to trim the shockbriar once it starts growing up our walls? And it's not going to keep the tesilars out."
Regular citizens like Wallis Borg are generally in favor of the move. "Why not plant shockbriar? It's pretty. And I trust the emperor. Royalty knows best, right?"
Memorial Gate (District)
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The “Phredies Par Memorial Lock and Parkland” is the strider entrance to Fort Tarsis, and a walking path developed just outside the walls for the purpose of recreational use. In the time of the Great Expansion, Arcanist inventor and Engineer Phredies Par came to Fort Tarsis to build the Honor Valley Dam, and its success brought an era of peace and prosperity to the area. The parkland is especially notable, intended as a well-guarded recreational hike for residents of the fort, but which had to be closed due to Scars.
Promising (4)
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"A Freelancer? You sure?”
“Absolutely. They get out there. They see the world.”
“I get it, I get it. Never imagined these walls would keep you inside forever, anyway.”
“Correct. What about you?”
“Well, I put my name in.”
“Engineering, right? Serious.”
“Maybe, yeah. Don't know. I want to see the world, but...”
“Tell you what—I get my javelin, and I'll take you out there myself.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“Yeah, but the best kind of danger!"
Ralner's Blaze (Weapon)
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This assault rifle is noted for the role it played in The Skirmish at Dunar. Surrounded on all sides, Ralner was holed up and desperate, but still battling the many Scars surrounding her. When her Freelancer allies fought through to her, they discovered a massive fire storm between Ralner and the Scars. The enterprising lancer had used dry conditions and fire to help defend her position. In honor of her resourcefulness, the Engineers created this rifle.
Relics of Heliost
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The "Relics of Heliost" puzzle was invented over two hundred years ago by a group of bored engineers in Heliost, who built it over one long month as a storm raged outside the city walls. This original puzzle was inadvertently built using pegs that turned out to be Shaper pieces. The mistake was only discovered when the chief engineer was struck blind.
Retaliation of Garretus (Weapon)
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Boltlet Garretus was a legendary mechanic who had an uncanny ability to get suits up and running no matter how badly damaged. His trademark was not only fixing the javelin, but always adding a little power boost to the weaponry. This automatic weapon's ember technology enhances damage capability through a responsive link within the suit's systems. It's believed to be based on Garretus' work.
Striders (2)
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With their tough hide and sturdy joints, striders can walk past the stars. Blast those criminals that knock my ugly beauties down for the promise of a few ratty coins.
On the line, the steps needed to bring a strider to life are beyond belief to those who have never seen it. Takes the sweat of many to ensure this world gets a little smaller and a little safer. What's more important than that?
— Gunger Ham,
Master Mechanical Engineer,
Heliost
The Dungeon (1)
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Similar architecture can be discovered across Bastion. Yet only here do we see it mixed with modern machinery, as though some Heliost engineers started making suggestions and adding chains and winches.
—From "Arcanist Monthly"
The First Cypher (2)
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It was not long after the Cataclysm that the Engineer's daughter developed strange new abilities. She could see faraway things or talk directly into another's mind. Word of her gifts spread. Soon, Arcanists arrived and presented her with a bold experiment… to help them test a device that would amplify her gift. It started with great success, but eventually met with failure. The girl's mind ventured too far from her body and became lost to the music of the Anthem of Creation. To this day, cyphers swear they glimpse the engineer's daughter while in their amplifier. first cypher, they say, watches over those who travel without moving, guiding them back from where she can never return.
The Necropolis (1)
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New forms of metal were recently discovered in underground Anzu cities! Engineers are excited to learn about new metals and rare rock formations found in structures buried beneath tons of rock and mud. Could these new finds be the edge our lancers need to safely end Cataclysms? Early reports suggest these mysterious, ancient structures have similar designs to strider bays, proving that engineers can theorize about history as well as any Arcanist.
—From "Heliost Monthly"
The Solarium Court (District)
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In the time of the urgoth, free humans lived underground, and with the urgoth defeat, humans sought to live above ground, in the open. An Engineer and an Arcanist set out to build a wondrous solarium, where people from all over could come to find peace and reflection in nature… of course, that didn’t go so well. The project had to be abandoned halfway through construction when the workers were eaten by a pack of Brutes. The moral learned from the Solarium Court is that looking for peace in nature is impossible.
Vassa's Surprise (Weapon)
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There are many old Engineers who swear this nasty little automatic is based off an original blueprint by Arden Vassa. It is said that Vassa believed a weapon that encouraged closing with the enemy would breed courage in his troops and fear in the enemy. That aggressive mindset was key to defeating the urgoth and may very well be the inspiration for this automatic.
Weapons Delivery
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Commander Vule:
Please accept my apologies in the late delivery of these capacitors and thruster augments for your Sentinels. The Scar incursion has caused difficulties in getting necessary supplies, and we have been facing a backlog. I'm sure you understand. Please don't hesitate to contact me via Chronicler if you need to speak further.
Regards,
Nithix Cage,
Forgewright
Heliost
Wolven (3)
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"I checked my rifle constantly. Cleaned as best as could be managed in the wet jungle. The pack had ambushed us—five, perhaps six, springing from the dense jungle in ruthless coordination. We lost two, Arcanist Reeve and Engineer Dahr, that first night. After that, it became a race to the fortified Sentinel base three days march from our position. The attacks continued through that first night and into the days ahead. We started the expedition with fourteen, but only three of us arrived at the gates."
—From "Lost Sun and Rain" by Lox Bergol
Zhim’s Legionnaire Archive
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This appears to be the fragment of an archive written by the Legionnaire Liatrelle the Unbroken shortly after the death of General Tarsis. It has been heavily annotated by Regulator treasure-hunters as they searched for the tombs. The Legion of Dawn counted many different members among their ranks—Arcanists, Engineers, healers, cooks, and, most importantly, the lancers known as Legionnaires. "The Volume of Tarsis" celebrates famous Legionnaires such as Magna Stral, Liatrelle, Sanadeen and Midderon, but hundreds of other warriors fill their own pages. Mentions are given to lancers Artinia, Cariff, Gawnes, Alnwick Marigold, Verithan, Yvenia, and the twins, Durnwin and Felux, though they are mentioned mostly in passing without great detail.