Ark

Ark is a Ruin in the shape of an enormous ship. It floats in the sea of the New Kingdom Atismata.

Description
Ark is a strangely-shaped black ship that is dozens of times bigger than a normal ship, dwarfing even Ries Island in size. It floats in the sea and changes its location on a fixed schedule. For example, it spends a period of approximately a week at Ries Island. Ark's location makes it difficult to investigate. There is only one way to enter and exit the interior of Ark: a transfer device in the centre of the deck. This takes the form of a circle of ancient letters, and it transfers people who stand on it for a fixed period of time.

The interior of Ark is humid and lit by dim bluish-white lights. It consists of thirteen levels, with the uppermost level numbered as the first one. People entering Ark are transferred to an area on the first floor called the lounge. Stairs connecting the levels are found at the bow and stern. Like the other Ruins, Ark is filled with Abyss and traps, which makes it difficult and dangerous to investigate. There are domed areas called Biome Spheres, which contain independent ecosystems such as forests. Due to damage from previous fighting, craters and rubble can be found everywhere and many systems no longer function.

The sixth level contains a residential area. The seventh level is a passage that splits into a large central corridor and four smaller ones. The central corridor is an Abyss manufacturing facility, with hundreds of liquid-filled tanks for creating Abyss. Among the Abyss manufactured are the two-headed dogs Orthrus, which serves as the watchdogs of the Ark. Other Abyss include Gargoyles, Chimeras, Gryphons, Krakens and Werewolves.

The levels below the seventh contain fewer Abyss than the upper ones (as these areas are not expected to need protection) and the distances to be travelled are shorter. A direct passage can be opened from the eight floor to the deck. The control room of the entire structure is located on the tenth level. A set of stairs leads to the deepest level, which is locked behind a grey-coloured door that only an Xfer can unlock. The eleventh level is a vast dome-shaped space surrounded by metal walls. On this level is a room which can be accessed by a member of the Arcadia bloodline. This room contains a receptacle for the Grand Force.

If an alert is raised, for example by breaking the door of the manufacturing facility, three Orthrus are released: one to target the source of the alert, one to patrol the interior, and one to go outside Ark and attack the surroundings. Furthermore, bulkheads appear to block off the paths of intruders.

The Automaton of Ark is La Krulshe, while the Ragnarok is Poseidon.