The Story of ARK on Scorched Earth
In the first DLC Scorched Earth released on September 1, 2016, you find yourself in another ARK. While not much is actively contributed to the story here and a cutscene at the end is also missing, the Explorer Notes provide insights into what has happened here.
In addition to the previously known authors of the Explorer Notes, two more people join:
- John Dahkeya is a former gang leader from 19th-century Texas.
- Raia is a priestess from ancient Egypt.
Raia was one of the first inhabitants of Scorched Earth. In her diaries, she describes that the obelisks triggered a disaster called “Doom from the Sky.” Her city and half of the then population fell victim to it.
Even today, you can enter the remnants of the city of Nosti, which have been swallowed by the earth. There you will find the artifact of the destroyer.
In an Explorer Note from an unknown author, presumably one of the creators of the ARKs, the following is stated:
Everything the system does serves its ultimate goal. The tests that are not tests. The harsh resets it performs when it believes its inhabitants are stagnating or have become restless. The new, ever more fantastic creatures it introduces into its ecosystems. Yes, even these plump, glowing lizard dogs. Look, they’re trying their best, okay?
Explorer Note – ??? #11
The problem is that the purpose of the system is not entirely static. The goals change. The bar has been raised and is now far beyond the reach of the system.
The more unreachable its purpose becomes and the more its errors accumulate, the more desperate the system becomes. Its actions become less predictable. In its death throes, these islands in the sky will become pits of madness. The chaos lurking in these cavernous depths will be the rule, not the exception.
You must repair it before it reaches that point. Otherwise, it will be too late.
The system behind the ARKs thus tries to fulfill its goals, which are the maintenance of the ecosystems, to the best of its ability. However, within aeons, more and more errors arise, the system becomes desperate, and chaos increases. This explains the more unnatural creatures like the Wyverns and Mantis in Scorched Earth.
John Dahkeya was also the one who first discovered the Wyverns. They have spread throughout Scorched Earth. The obelisks then cloned more mantis, which subsequently developed into a plague. The difficulty of the ARK has thus been steadily increasing. In a large Wyvern attack, Dahkeya ultimately sacrificed himself to protect his friends.
Later, the other authors of the Explorer Notes arrive but do not stay long on Scorched Earth. Raia and the other inhabitants already possess the trophy of the guardian, that is, the Manticore, and know where the TEK cave is located.
Your Adventure as a Player
Your task on Scorched Earth is simpler than on The Island. You just need to explore three caves and find the respective artifacts. Afterwards, you can face the boss, the Manticore.
That’s already it for the first DLC. No TEK cave, no final boss, and no cutscene either. Off we go to Aberration!
