Majestic mountains and rocks. Master of the Black Tower. Azeñas do Mar, city in Portugal

Only mountains can be better than mountains,

Which I haven't been to yet...

Vladimir Vysotsky

There are many poems, songs and stories about mountains. Still, everyone who has ever seen the mountains will remember their greatness and beauty for life. Many try to conquer them, and many just look and admire this splendor and wonder of nature...

We present you a small photo selection of some of the most famous, majestic and beautiful mountains of our planet ...

Armenia

There are many mountains and extinct volcanoes. The highest mountain on the territory of modern Armenia is Aragats, whose height is 4094 meters.

Mount Ararat is an ancient extinct volcano, the last eruption of which was in 1840. It consists of two mountains that have merged at their bases: Masis (Great Ararat) and Sis (Small Ararat) and this is the highest point of the Armenian Highlands.

Ararat is famous not only for its natural beauty and grandeur, but also thanks to biblical legends. It was on this mountain that Noah's ark ended up after the waters of the Flood left.

Altai mountains

Altai is a land of incomparable mountains, magnificent in its beauty. The Altai Mountains are a system of the highest ranges in Siberia.

For more than a century, the harsh and beautiful peaks have attracted scientists, travelers, tourists, photographers, artists, climbers, and pilgrims, as many of the local mountains are local shrines.

The Alps are located in Central Europe and are found in northern Italy, southern Austria, the southern half of Switzerland, and eastern France.

Switzerland

The Swiss mountains are, first of all, of course, the Alps, majestic and fabulously beautiful, sharp peaks covered with snow, and slopes with green meadows.

In addition, the Swiss mountains are a real oasis for skiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts.

Italy

The Dolomites is the name of a mountain range in northeastern Italy. Its length is more than 150 km, and the height is more than 3300 meters.

The presence of dolomite in the structure of the mountains gives them a special charm - in the rays of the rising and setting sun, the rocks acquire unusual shades, from cream to pale pink.

The mountain system of the Carpathians stands in the center of Europe and belongs to the northern branch of the Alpine folded belt.

The Ukrainian Carpathians are located in the western region on the border with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania. On the tops of the mountains there are meadows - alpine meadows, where you can see many types of plants.

Africa

In the northeast of Tanzania, in the desert plain, is the highest peak in Africa - the incomparable Mount Kilimanjaro. It is located above the Masai plateau.

The top of a dormant volcano in a snow-white cap that sparkles in the rays of the bright sun of Africa.

Perhaps that is why the locals called it Kilimanjaro, which means “sparkling mountain” in Swahili.

In the old days, the tribes inhabiting this area, who had never seen snow, thought that it was covered with silver.

Caucasian mountains

Mount Fisht

Fisht is one of the most famous and beautiful peaks of the Western Caucasus. In clear weather, it can be seen from Krasnodar, Sochi, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Armavir and Timashevsk.

The extraordinary Mount Elbrus, which attracts climbers, skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, is actually a volcano.

Scientists call this mountain a stratovolcano, which means that from time to time lava flows erupt from the vent, which, due to their density, do not spread over long distances, but freeze near the place of the eruption. Therefore, Elbrus “grows” every time and today is considered the highest mountain peak in Europe.

Alaska

McKinley is a two-headed mountain located in Alaska and is the highest peak in North America. It stands in the center of the Denali National Park.

Chile

Mountains occupy 80% of the Chilean territory. These are two parallel ranges - the Main and Coastal Cordillera. Chile's highest mountain point is Ojos del Salado.

USA

Mountains, canyons, hills and celestial peaks, the Sierra Nevada mountains surround the center of the California Valley, protecting it from hot desert winds.

California has the lowest geographical point in Death Valley and the highest mountain peak in the United States - Whitney.

Logan is the highest mountain in Canada. It stands in the Kluane National Park in southwestern Canada in the Yukon in the mountain range - St. Elias Ridge.

Canadian Rockies, Appalachians, Long Range, Carlton, Cordillera, Colonels, Mackenzie - this is just a small part of the mountain splendor of Canada.

Tajikistan

The Fann Mountains are located in the southwest of the Pamir-Alay near the Zeravshan and Gissar ranges. Fans are attracted, first of all, by excellent sunny and stable weather in July - August.

The main wealth of the Fann Mountains is, of course, the lakes. There are more than thirty of them. Big and small, deep and shallow, legendary and lost in impregnable gorges.

Himalayas

One of the most famous incredible wonders of the world are the Himalayan mountains. The point is not only in the greatness of this creation of nature, but also in the large amount of the unknown that these giant peaks contain.

The Himalayan massif passes through the lands of five states - India, Pakistan, China, Nepal and the Kingdom of Bhutan. The eastern foothills of the range border the north of the Republic of Bangladesh.

Japan

Despite the dense population of Japan, a large area is occupied by the masterpieces of nature - the mountains of Japan. They took the 3rd part of the country's surface. Here you can see the most amazing reliefs - from the lowlands of the forests to the mighty highlands.

In addition, Japan is famous for its volcanoes, of which there are more than 200, 160 of which are considered extinct.

The undisputed symbol of the country is the sacred Mount Fuji. This is the most beautiful and famous mountain in Japan, which was sung in ancient legends and tales.

In addition to her, the mountains Ontakesan, Hakusan and Tateyama are also highly revered.

There are some amazing feats of architecture in our world that are not just a beautifully constructed building, but something more... It will be about combining architecture and nature. Cities built on cliffs and rocks are presented to your attention.

This theme is an addition to the selection of the most beautiful cities in the world according to LifeGlobe. I think that any of the places on this list can rightfully be included in the list of the most beautiful cities in the world.

10. Castellfolly de la Roca

Castellfolli de la Roca is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the region of Catalonia in Spain. It is built on a cliff of basalt, between two rivers. Most of the buildings seem to be on the very edge of the cliff, giving the illusion that they could fall at any moment. The entire village stretches for less than a kilometer in length. The oldest parts of the village were built in the Middle Ages and are made up of narrow streets. The buildings here are made of volcanic rock.

9. Rocamadour

Rocamadour is a tiny village built on a rocky cliff above a gorge on the river Alzou in southwestern France. The buildings of Rocamadour rise step by step, towards the cliff. The village, which dates back to the 12th century, was almost abandoned to its fate because of the war and the French Revolution. Today it is again popular and thousands of tourists come here every year.

8. Bonifacio

Bonifacio is a city in the southern part of Corsica. The city and its fortifications stretch along the tops of a cliff 70 meters high. The city's cliffs have been washed away by the ocean so that the buildings at the very edge of the abyss seem to hang over the water.

7. Acapulco

Acapulco is an original Mexican resort city that has taken a prominent place in history since 1950 - tired Hollywood stars and millionaires escape here. However, it remains a popular tourist destination for many people.

6. Mesa Verde

Messa Verde is located in southwestern Colorado and is home to ancient people. It is the most significant Native American archaeological site in the United States. In the 12th century, Indian tribes began to build buildings in shallow caves and under rock ledges along the canyon walls. By 1300, all the Indians had left Mesa Verde, but their place of residence was perfectly preserved. The reason for their sudden departure remains unexplained. Theories range from crop failure due to drought, to invasion by foreign tribes from the North.

5. Bandiagara Highlands

The Bandiagara Highlands is a sand cliff in Mali that rises to almost 500 meters. These cliffs are dotted with ancient cave dwellings. They carved out their caves so that their dead relatives could be buried high above the ground to avoid the flash floods that plague the area.

4. Rhonda

Ronda is located in the province of Malaga in Spain. The city is located in the mountains with a height of 760 meters and is split into two parts by the river Guedalevin. To help tourists, there are three bridges that cross the canyon. The architecture of the city got its features from the Romans and Moors who once ruled the area.

3. Al Khayyarah

Al Khayyarah is a historical city on a cliff in the Mountains of Yemen, located to the west of the city of Maneh. This is one of the most impressive and easily accessible mountain villages in Yemen. The village was literally built into the mountain in the course of stone mining. Al Khayyar has existed since the 12th century. Structures such as granaries and water cisterns enabled this village to withstand long sieges.

2. Positano

Positano is one of the most popular attractions in Italy. The city seems to be scattered from top to bottom, right down to the very slope leading to the coast. In the 20th century, Positano was a poor fishing village, but today it is very popular among tourists.

1. Santorini Island

Santorini is one of the Greek volcanic islands. It is known for its magnificent dramatic scenery and amazing sunsets that can be seen from the cities of Fira and Oia. Oia was built on top of jagged rocks by a dormant volcano, while Fira is famous for intertwining Venetian architecture with a number of other styles. Among the snow-white houses on the streets of these cities, there are many restaurants, taverns and hotels.

Start + First quests

Coming out of the dean's office, Artem looked at the coveted "brick" in the student's record book. Well, the session is closed. There are two months of summer ahead. Classmates joyfully moved towards the nearest bar. After seeing them off with a sad look and sighing heavily, Artyom resolutely moved in the opposite direction. There was work ahead. Taking a short cut through the courtyards, he stopped at a colorful poster that adorned the wall of the mall. Huge spaceship surrounded by bright stars. His armor was adorned with meteorite craters here and there. Some segments of the skin were sooty, once raging fires. The main engine nozzles had long been extinguished, but the ship still continued on its way through space. "The ark". The place of his future work. The Ark virtual world has become an excellent alternative to those players who are fed up with sugary elves, brutal orcs and dwarves puffing through their beer fumes. There were no majestic castles, no gingerbread houses and other fantasy delights. There was a giant colonial ship here. Its numerous decks and compartments, abandoned hangars and destroyed greenhouses. And all this is inhabited by mutated flora, aggressive xenofauna, crazy Rambots, combat cyborgs and deadly viruses. Numerous NPCs were given the role of descendants of the surviving crew. Well, the players were those failed colonists whose bodies were immersed in cryo-bay capsules.

Also for the "Ark"? - Thoughtful Artem did not even notice how he entered the trading floor. And almost ran into a sales assistant.

Stepping in the direction of the ill-fated cryo-bay in the morning, Artyom did not decide what to do. On the one hand, if you complete the task of the bartender, then as a reward, in addition to experience and money, Ferum will activate the skill "the basics of cooking" for you. With it, you can cook the first level food. Hunger is one of the important characteristics of the character, which must be monitored. As soon as hunger reaches the so-called "red" zone, stamina automatically starts to decrease. With it, the speed of movement also drops, which in the conditions of the Ark often means death. And given the prices for purchased food, this skill should be one of the first to open. But despite the arguments of reason, Artyom was disgusted by the very thought of completing this task. If you hand over the bartender to the sheriff, then instead of cooking, the scanning skill is unlocked. Which, with subsequent levels, is divided into branches "bioscanning" and "scanning mechanisms". Which won't hurt at all in the future. Some players advised not to bother with this task, but simply buy these skills. But for Artyom, who came to the game to earn money, the idea of ​​spending money where you can get it for free was also not acceptable. In general, having not made a choice, Artyom decided to first complete the task of the sheriff to destroy the rats.

Yesterday's corridor met with silence. Only the sound of doors closing behind him. Artem involuntarily looked around. The door looked rather shabby. The bottom is heavily littered with deep scratches and dents. As if the rats had repeatedly tried to break into the living quarters. The corridor itself was deserted. Only some small debris littered the floor. Cautiously moving forward, Artyom reached a break in the wall, near which Lector's corpse lay yesterday. The body was no longer there, only small shreds left from the suit, and badly gnawed boots. In the depths of the gap, the eyes of rats were red, waiting for their next victim.

Remembering the last battle, Artem thought. Yesterday, having killed a couple of rats, he himself was on the verge of death. The damage dealt by the knife was too low. It is necessary to somehow increase it, or after each battle you will have to sit out for a long time, waiting for regeneration. So the time has come to see what yesterday hastily scooped into his pockets, in a smoky cryo-compartment. Thanks to the skill, "Melee Weapon-1", any suitable items can be used as a weapon. And he definitely remembered at least one rather long, jagged fragment of the capsule.

There were three such fragments. Having half wrapped them with pieces of wire, he formed the handles. Enjoyed the result:

Homemade knife. Level-1. Type: one-handed. Damage: 1-2. Durability 10/10

Here comes the notification:

Congratulations, you've unlocked the Crafting-1 skill on your own.

A pleasant surprise. Not only did you not have to spend money on the discovery of the skill, but they also poured experience for each created knife.

Artyom, armed with two knives, approached the gap step by step. Trying to take small steps to break the agro zone with only one of the rats. The creatures didn't move. Only red eyes continued to glow in the darkness. At last the invisible barrier was passed. Immediately there was a nasty squeak and a rat rushed at him from the breach. He stepped back a little, so as not to aggro the others and made a lunge towards the approaching creature. The vile creature squealed and tried to bite her hand, but was met with a blow from the second knife. Furiously working with two knives, Artyom furiously chopped up the screeching creature. Torn flesh squelched wetly under the blows. With a final squeak, the rat fell to the floor.

And then it went like clockwork. Approaching the dip, grabbing the rat and walking away, then beating it in a safe place. Each rat that was killed regularly dropped a tail. Failure in well-established work on the destruction of rats occurred on the seventh corpse. Artyom stretched out his hand as usual, touching only that of the dead creature. She just as usual disintegrated into dust, leaving behind a tail. It was not usual that the tail fell out more than one. Next to him was a piece of meat. In confusion, picking up a piece, turned it over in his hands, reading the description issued by the system:

Piece of meat. Level: 1. Type: resource. Description: a piece of meat, although a little tough, but suitable for cooking.

Hmm.. A piece of meat. I wonder what the bartender had about the requirements? Hastily began flipping through the quest log. "Bring ten pieces" and not a word about whose meat should be. Is there a third way out of the difficult situation? But for this you need to get nine more.

Cheered up, Artyom enthusiastically set to work on the next rat. One tail fell out again. And the next one too. During the battle with the tenth, a homemade knife broke. It just crumbled to dust on impact. Having mentally punished himself, always in the future to monitor the strength of weapons and clothing, he spent the rest of the battle with one knife. Finally, the tenth rat crumbled to dust, leaving only its tail in Artyom's hands. The message that popped up got me thinking.

Obtained the required number of items (rat tail 10/10). Present them to the Sheriff of Section 317 for a reward.

But still decided to continue the rat genocide. After all, you still need to check the version about meat for the bartender.

The rats in the gap are over. Or they were far enough away not to react to the approaching Artyom. I had to go there myself. A real hole began in the breach. The space between the two corridors was filled with various structural braces and sealing material. Just through the compactor the rats made their way. Dropping to all fours and putting a knife in front of him, he crawled along the hole. The darkness and narrowness of the hole made him feel all the delights of claustrophobia. To this was added the fear of stumbling upon rats in crowded places. Therefore, having fallen out of the hole into some kind of corridor, Artyom smiled happily.

The corridor had a clearly technical purpose. Bundles of wires and fiber optic cables curled overhead. Batteries of pipes of various sizes stretched along the walls. At regular intervals there were niches lined with shelving. After walking fifty meters along this corridor and getting a couple more tails, Artyom came to a small platform in the center of which there was a ledge of a large hatch with a locking wheel at the top. It was shifted to the side and through the gap one could see the brackets of the stairs going down. Without thinking, Artyom dived into the hatch and began to quickly descend.

Below was the same platform and the battle was in full swing on it. About a dozen rats surrounded a player and violently attacked. However, the player himself did not care at all. Armed with a piece of pipe with barbed wire wound around it, he spun like a snake, distributing blows to the right and left. At the same time, he still managed to bawl some kind of children's song, not at all worrying about breathing.

Stand up children, stand in a circle

Stand in a circle, stand in a circle.

The words of the song, the squeaking and squealing of rats, the chomping sounds of trumpet blows on the living, all this created an indescribable sound cacophony. And even though by the appearance of a stranger you can’t tell that he needed help. Artyom could not remain an outside spectator and, having issued some kind of war cry, rushed to the rescue.

The last pair of rats had not yet had time to receive damage from an unfamiliar player, so they easily switched to the approaching Artyom. The stranger only shook his head at the appearance of help and stopped singing. His trumpet continued to hammer at the rats' backs with the frequency of rain. Here, squealing, one fell. Almost immediately, the second one fell apart. By this moment, Artem also finished off his first opponent. The experience of rat-fighting tactics gained during the morning made itself felt. Artyom was constantly moving, preventing the creatures from attacking at the same time. And focusing all the damage on one of them. Having finished the last, he looked back at the player. I realized with surprise that the one to whom he rushed to help turned out to be a girl. If this is of course in relation to the player playing for the race of cyborgs. But despite belonging to the "weaker" sex, she masterfully mastered her impromptu bat. The crude mechanism that replaced her left hand was some kind of analogue of a stun gun. The discharges that periodically burst from him made the rats freeze and convulse. Those few that nevertheless broke through close to her, powerlessly scraped their teeth, unable to bite through the skin. It was probably some sort of protection.

Finally, the last creature let out its death squeak and collapsed on the dirty floor. There was an opportunity to examine the stranger in more detail. Pale, almost cyanotic, skin. The head, smooth as a billiard ball, is covered with an intricate tattoo. The right eye was replaced with a cyber prosthesis, which immediately reminded Artyom of the first cameras. It was made in the form of the same accordion. And he was in constant motion, then retracting, then, on the contrary, moving apart for more accurate focusing. The rest of the facial features were simply lost against the background of this flickering.

Thank you, of course, for your help, but I could do it myself - and for clarity, I twisted the pipe. The split air hummed.

Yes, not for anything. There was no time to think, I saw how they already surrounded you.

I have nanobots of the second level, "steel skin". Damage almost does not pass. All the money swelled, not even for weapons. And I specially pulled the rats into a bunch, so as not to run after each one later.

Such a statement even slightly offended Artem. He then thought that he was in a hurry to help, but it turns out he almost interfered. Turning to the corpses of his rats, he touched his hand collecting loot. This time luck was on his side and he got another piece of meat.

Sorry, got excited. It's not often you'll find unselfish help here. - the girl had already collected her share of the booty and now stood holding out her hand.

World? My name is Blonde.

Funny nickname given the bald head. Artyom smiled and shook the outstretched hand.

And I'm Temnik.

How did you even get here? I didn't seem to see you at the entrance to our sector.

I'm looking for meat.

Hunger props up? - the Blonde asked with sympathy - wait I now .- and began to rummage enthusiastically in a small backpack.

Here you go, this is a standard ration. Just enough for a day. - she handed Artyom a brownish-brown briquette.

E..e.e., thanks of course, but I don’t need meat for food, but for a task. At first I hunted in the upper corridor, but the rats ran out there, I had to climb here.

Told the Blonde about the rat hole. At the same time sharing your problem with the task. The Blonde turned out to have a completely different starting scenario. Entering the game, she found herself in a hospital room, where she lay after an unsuccessful operation to implant an eye prosthesis. According to the scenario, something went wrong during the operation and she lost her memory. In general, she did not have such an extreme start as Artem had. And she killed rats for their tails. They not only brought money, but also raised the reputation of the head of the repairmen.

I want to open the skill "transport", and without a high reputation only for money.

So they went talking and gnawing rations. And destroying the met rats. The mountain of tails grew. Meats were also added. Now there were eight of them, ten minutes later another one was added. And then the corridor ended. They approached the blockage blocking the further path. Some boxes, remnants of shelving, strips of metal, plastic panels - everything was dumped into a huge barricade. There was no question of getting through it. Even Artyom with his physique could not penetrate into the narrow gap left under the ceiling.

How much meat is still missing? - the Blonde asked in a matter-of-fact way.

One. - Artem sadly looked at the blockage.

So we are looking for a bypass. Like rats make their way. So there must be another way.

They walked slowly back down the corridor, carefully looking at the walls. The workaround was spotted together. More precisely, he was prompted by a rat leaning out of a ventilation duct that stretched under the ceiling. The rat twisted its nose and, not detecting danger, jumped onto a nearby rack, from it to the floor and cheerfully trotted along the corridor. But she was not allowed to go far. The electric shock made her freeze, and two knives and a club crumbled to dust. For a more detailed study of the find, I had to climb onto the rack.

You know, it wasn't the rats that broke the panel. She was opened by someone. Look, even the bolts are baited back so as not to be lost. - With these words, the Blonde climbed into the hole waist-deep.

Well, what is there?

Not a thing is visible. Now I'll set up the flashlight. She fiddled with her prosthesis. And a bluish ray of light cut through the twilight of the corridor.

The beam of light was narrow, but quite bright. The blonde again disappeared in the pipe.

Now everything is clear. There is a fan in front, it looks like the panel was removed to get access to the mechanism for repair.

Is it possible to get through?

The blonde looked doubtfully at the frozen blades - I'll try. With those words, she completely disappeared from sight. For several minutes, her concentrated panting could be heard from the hole, finally

Get over here.

Not keeping himself waiting, Artyom easily pulled himself up on his hands and climbed into the hole. The beam of the flashlight darted from wall to wall, allowing you to navigate well. Working with his elbows, he quickly reached the fan. The gap between the blades allowed to penetrate further.

I think I hear a rat squeak! Soon we will get your last piece. - The voice of the Blonde was joyfully excited. She quickly moved along the pipe towards the blockage. Artyom had no choice but to follow her and try to keep up. The thought of being alone in the dark made him shudder. But now light appeared ahead, penetrating through another removed panel. At the same time, a noticeable narrowing of ventilation was seen. And it is hardly possible to penetrate further. For a moment, the light obscured the silhouette of the Blonde slipping out. After a couple of moments, Artyom also got out. They were on the other side of the dam. On this side, it was more gentle, which allowed the rats to penetrate the duct without any problems.

The corridor stretched for another ten meters, and then its walls diverged to form a small, rounded room. And from there came a rather loud rat squeak. A similar squeak was emitted by rats rushing to the attack. The pair of friends exchanged glances and cautiously moved forward. The view that opened up caused the Blonde to sigh in astonishment. Artem was more eloquent:

I think I now understand the saying about locomotives that should have been killed while they were teapots.

Most of the room was occupied by a rat. More precisely, even so - the RAT. The hefty creature was almost as tall as Artyom. Long incisors protruded from the mouth thirty centimeters. Powerful claws on the paws and a thick tuberous tail. Like her smaller relatives, she was practically devoid of hair. Festering boils and oozing sores thickly dotted her skin. The monster stood against the far wall and was obviously waiting for something. She did not even react to the frozen players.

The blonde slowly pulled off her backpack. She rummaged through it and pulled out two syringes. She handed one of them to Artyom.

So it's time for "heavy artillery". This will boost our regeneration twice, but only for a couple of minutes. Therefore, during this time it is desirable to finish off the creature. It's probably the rat boss.

After taking the stimulant and checking the condition of the weapons, the couple rushed at the rat with a scream. The creature instantly reacted to their approach. With a loud squeak, she lashed out with her tail. Having knocked down Artyom with a blow, she turned her head and bit into the Blonde with her teeth. Jumping to his feet, Artyom managed to notice the sparks of the discharge hit the rat in the face. And the Blonde is well done, she was not taken aback.

Get the creature! - and Artyom's knives crack open wrinkled skin. The blonde wastes no time walking her back with her pipe. Tail kick again. But this time, the players were on their guard and the blow missed. The discharge hits the rat causing convulsions to fall to the floor. Until the effect wears off, Artyom perforates his bare belly with knives. The rat has come to his senses and the wide spades of the front incisors pierce his leg. Despite the injected stimulant, health immediately sags by a third.

Banzai!! - the Blonde's pipe falls on one of the monster's paws. The crunching of bones is clearly audible. This slightly reduces the agility, making the rat more clumsy. Artem immediately changes tactics. Run up, hit, move to the side, hit again, dodge the tail. And circling, circling around, not allowing you to use your teeth again. Another discharge hits the rat in the head and she shudders and falls dead.

Congratulations! You have reached a new level. Current level: 3. Skills available for learning: gathering resources-2, pistols-1, equipment-1, melee weapons-2.

Immediately activate the collection of resources, the rest can wait for now. Judging by the Blonde, she also gained a level and is now studying the available skills. Walking around the dead rat and again marveling at its size, Artyom went up to the far wall of the room. He was wondering what this creature was guarding there. Once there was a passage here, but now the path was blocked by a powerful lattice, welded from thick rods. With a cell size of fifteen centimeters. She was clearly an obstacle to something big. Further examination was interrupted by the Blonde.

It's time to start cutting the pie, - and rubbing her hands in anticipation, she moved towards the rat, while singing softly:

Give me your hands

Give me your lips

But when she saw Artyom's dumbfounded look, she fell silent in embarrassment. And she touched the prostrate body with the most serious expression on her face. This victory brought the long-awaited tenth piece of meat, as well as thirty credits for each. Pleasantly tinkling came a message about the replenishment of the account. Still standing near the bars, Artyom smiled contentedly. Leg hurt. The system duplicated the message about the received damage. He turned sharply, his eyes darting around in search of the enemy. Easily slipping between the bars of the grate, a beetle a little smaller than a palm was trotting towards him. Most of all, he resembled an ugly ant. Unnaturally large, half the body, head armed with sharp mandibles. Not risking bending down, Artyom simply kicked the bugger away with his foot. To his surprise, this brought an unexpected result. The overgrown ant died. After his death, players received a crushed, chitinous shell as a trophy.

Wandering termite shell. Type: quest.

And then came the description of the quest.

Quest available: "Thermite Threat". Description: Until recently, the leader of the rat pack blocked the way for nomadic termites. But he fell in battle and now nothing keeps termites from attacking the residential sector. It is necessary to warn the inhabitants of Compartment No. 317 about the advancing enemy. Requirements: Deliver the Wandering Termite Shell and present it to the Sheriff. Reward: 50 credits, 150 experience and 10 reputation points with Ward #317. Accept? Not really.

And the rat turned out to be not even a rat at all, but quite a guard dog. And I kept thinking how she managed to get so fat in such a small room.

You can talk about this on the way back, but for now you should not linger here. - Artyom pointed to another termite crawling through the bars.

The return journey was much faster. And it was much easier. Despite the fact that they lingered, putting back the unscrewed duct panels. As the Blonde explained - you should not simplify the life of insects.

Having got out into the familiar technical corridor, they did not climb, following the example of Artyom, through the rat hole, but went forward. After a little wiggling, and going down a level, they reached a wide gate. An old, faded inscription informed about the entrance to the technical sector of compartment No. 317. With a strained creak, the doors parted, letting in friends. If Artem more or less familiarized himself with the upper level yesterday, then everything here was a wonder for him. Walking along the corridor, following the Blonde, he only had time to turn his head. Here was the realm of mechanisms, and cyborgs who ran it all. From all sides came the grinding and heavy blows, the squeal of saws and grinders. The roar of klaxons was periodically heard and it was necessary to give way to vehicles. The wide corridor was filled with people. Basically, they were of course cyborgs, but there were enough players from other races. And there were many more different shops, shops and just street vendors than in the central hall where Artem visited. There were heaps of various parts along the walls, pieces of plastic panels, parts of droids, some kind of control panels. It seemed that you could buy anything here. The blonde on the move gave brief explanations, pointing with her finger: armored personnel carriers, gunsmiths, garages and droid repair shops here, do not pay attention to transport - there is an exit to the main tunnels nearby. Finally, they stopped at the largest pile of parts. Leaving Artyom standing, the Blonde dived through the open door. While waiting for the girl, he looked around. Several players interestedly delved into the rubbish laid out, looking for the necessary details. Sometimes there was a joyful exclamation, when pulling out the next find. All this was accompanied by questions: - Is it really ...? Same …!! To which the seller only smiled proudly, glancing at his neighbors with an air of superiority. Suddenly, a wild cry of the Blonde came from the open door. Jumping up in surprise, Artyom grabbed his knives and rushed to the rescue. But what I saw made me stop. It was not clear who needed help, and whether it was needed at all. The blonde joyfully circled the hall, squeezing some kind of cyborg in her arms. Seeing Artyom, she left the unfortunate master alone, now circling with her partner. It was so unexpected that Artyom did not even have time to remove his weapon. So he circled, with knives clutched in his hands. It didn't bother the blonde at all. She was filled with joyful emotions.

I managed! You understand? Now I can create my own transport!

I must say that although there was transport in the game, it could only be used in the main tunnels. These tunnels passed through the entire Ark, entangling it with a thread of transport highways. Not everywhere they were passable. Somewhere decks had collapsed. And in some it was impossible to break through from bandits of all stripes. Mostly players sinned with this, but there were also gangs consisting exclusively of NPCs. But despite the difficulties, in the sectors already inhabited by players, the main tunnels were used to quickly move between locations. Some clans have occupied the niche of transportation, carrying out regular passenger flights. And such services were willingly used, although the prices were rather high. And not everyone is given to create their own transport. Someone does not have enough experience to discover the right skill, someone is simply too lazy. So, the discovery of the skill was really an event.

Now Artem pounced on the Blonde with congratulations. Their fun was interrupted by the grumbling of the old master, about whom everyone had forgotten.

Oh, this youth. To arrange dances for them all, And who will speak with the sheriff?

Oh, it's true. We forgot about termites!

Master, how do you know?

The blonde immediately admitted embarrassedly, “I told everything, I just thought since Master Hephaestus is on the village council, then he must also know about the invasion.

Enough talk! - the old master has already begun to get angry - well, go to the sheriff. Tell him that we will securely block the entrance. But until the termite queen is destroyed, the threat will remain. Let him call for volunteers.

Finding the sheriff was no easy task. He was not at the post at the entrance to the upper level. Having looked through all the shops in the central hall, they did not find him either. The hall was followed by the nearest corridors. There was a valiant law enforcement officer only in a bar near Ferum.

Seeing Artyom entering, the bartender's lips curled into a vile smirk. With a wink, he asked:

Well, what should I heat up the pan? Did you bring fresh meat?

Brushing off the question, Artyom hurried to the Sheriff's table. As we progressed, the bartender's face became more and more sullen.

What do you owe? - Sheriff looked up from a magnificent chop. - Haven't you delivered us from these vile rats?

At the sight of fried meat, Artyom again remembered his suspicions. He was immediately taken aback. Unable to explain anything, he simply laid the rat tails on the table.

Completed the "Gray Invasion" mission. Experience gained. Loans received. Reputation with the settlement "Compartment #317" has been increased.

Not really reading the messages of the system, Artyom silently laid the termite shell on the table. Another message about the completed task was displayed. Seeing the condition of her partner, the Blonde hurried to tell how they got it. As the story progressed, the sheriff's face darkened more and more.

Damn it! Just dealt with the rats, like a new attack! But if security turrets coped well with the penetration of rats into the living compartment, then for termites I'm afraid there will not be enough rate of fire.

Master Hephaestus promised to reliably block all exits. But he fears that while the uterus is alive, this will not help much and the residential sectors will be in a real siege.

Hearing this, the sheriff stood up resolutely - he would have to announce a reward for the daredevils who were ready to eliminate the new threat.

As soon as he said this, the howl of sirens tore the air. The text appeared before my eyes:

Attention! The local event "Protection from termites" has been launched. Restriction: Only for players of levels 1-4. You are offered a task to eliminate the threat to Compartment No. 317, from nomadic termites. Reward: experience, depending on the contribution to the overall victory. 1 credit for each termite destroyed. 1000 credits for destroying the termite queen. The location of the uterus has been added to the map.

The same message was received by all the players present. The hall murmured approvingly. From everywhere he heard the noise of hastily pushed back chairs. Players left the bar hoping to be the first to reach the termite queen.

Shall we go too? It takes money to build even a simple scooter.

Wait a minute. There is one more unfinished business.

Artem approached the bartender. Ferum's face showed no emotion. He looked at the approaching player with complete calmness. But as the pieces of meat were laid out on the counter, his human half took on a menacing look. And the artificial eye was completely blazing, like an evil demon.

What is this?

Meat, just like you asked. -Despite his confident tone, Artyom did not feel confident.

The bartender picked up one of the pieces with his creepy-looking prosthesis. He looked him over carefully.

Did you bring me rat meat? His gaze became even more ferocious. Artyom began to feverishly figure out what was better - to accept a hopeless battle or run away, hoping for the agility of his legs. Something must have flashed across his face, because the bartender laughed deafeningly. This laughter seemed to transform Ferum. Turned into a completely different person. Where is that vile guy who gave Artyom the task. Or the sullen killer with a fanatical fire in his eyes, who appeared before him a minute ago. There is none of them. In front of Artyom sat an ordinary grandfather, scattering good-natured laughter.

Well, ratty, of course. There are simply no other animals here.

And why then were all these hints of human flesh?

The appearance of the killer returned again, and his gaze became cold, evaluating. - What do you think?

Artyom, who was completely unsettled by all these metamorphoses, shrugged his shoulders.

The Ark set off a long time ago, and almost anyone was taken into the colonists, there would be arms, legs. Including took and the inhabitants of prisons, giving them a chance for a new life. Of course, there was information about each colonist, but you yourself understand that time destroyed all the archives. And now, when the timers on the capsules began to work en masse, it is necessary to somehow check people.

Kind of a tough test.

Believe me, a real person will always find a way. But how many scum was found. However, I chatted something, because you still have to fight with termites. Keep your reward.

Completed the "Meat for the Bartender" quest. Experience gained. Loans received. Increased reputation with the settlement "Compartment #317". Increased reputation with all playable races. Acquired the skill "The Basics of Cooking". Acquired the skill "Scanners". A new implant has been received (properties unknown).

I have never seen anything less like an earthly landscape. And she was glad when the soaring horses reached the top of the slope and trotted into the valley. There were no stately houses, no gardens, only rocks and brown, dead heather. Once there was a herd of sheep with black noses. At last we passed a tiny hamlet, low, thatched houses huddled flat on the rocky ground. Then we climbed the last slope, and before my frightened eyes appeared the appearance of Blacktower.

From the top of the slope we came upon a wide plateau strewn with gravel, and proceeded past the powerful walls into a courtyard lit by flaming torches. Mrs. Cannon woke up, got out of her cloak and hurried to the door.

The door led into a corridor with a stone floor, which was even colder than outside. From time to time we could smell the kitchen, which convinced me that we were in the back of the house, not far from the kitchen. Mrs. Cannon trotted briskly ahead of me, passing corridor after corridor, and at last we proceeded through the doors into the hall at the entrance to the house. Wooden floors were laid here on wild stone; moreover, there were carpets, for which my cold ankles were quite grateful. There was a heavy oak door in one of the walls, which probably led to the front door, where the carriages drove up. A nice staircase led to the second floor.

“We only use the west wing,” Mrs. Cannon explained puffing as she climbed the steps. “The rest of the house is in ruins, and besides, it's too, too big.

But the western wing alone seemed to me quite immense. The corridors here were also carpeted and lit by candles in wall brackets.

Finally Mrs. Cannon stopped in front of one of the doors and opened it.

- This is my room. No, don't sit down, my dear, I'll see if all the necessary arrangements are made for you.

She yanked the bell, and soon one of the maids answered its ringing. The girl was young, strongly built, her hair was decorated with linen braid, and she was dressed in a dark house dress with a white apron and cap. Her plump rosy face might have been considered pretty if she weren't so sullen.

“Come in and close the door,” Mrs. Cannon ordered her sharply. “Miss Gordon, this young girl's name is Betty. She will respond to your call just as she would to my own. Come on, you stupid girl! she added, and for a moment I thought the words were referring to me. “What room have you prepared for Miss Gordon?”

- Red room, mom.

- Fits perfectly. Come on, Betty, don't stand there with your mouth open; show Miss Gordon the red room.

The old lady had already settled down by the fire, with both plump legs resting on the grate. I got up, not in the least surprised by her impertinence; I already knew that Mrs. Cannon was a kind woman, but concerned primarily with her own convenience and comfort.

When I was already moving towards the door, she muttered through her drowsiness:

“I will dine here, Miss Gordon. Join me? Betty will bring you...

I thanked her heartily, but I think the old lady had fallen asleep before the door closed behind me.

The Red Room, which was three doors down the hall from Mrs. Cannon's, was as cheerful as its name. A fire danced in the hearth, casting warm reflections on the cream-coloured curtains and canopy of the bed. The floor was covered with a bright Turkish carpet.

Betty barely closed the door behind us, and it immediately opened again. A despondent-looking servant entered the room without knocking, threw my luggage on the floor without ceremony, and departed.

After unpacking my luggage, I pulled a chair over to the fire and sank into it with a sigh of relief. Warmed up, I was almost dozing off when Betty returned.

“If you like, miss, I came to ask if you would like me to help you change your clothes?”

I am dressed, thank you. If Mrs. Cannon is dining with all the ceremonies, she will have to excuse me.

- The owner sent to say that you will dine with him.

The owner, indeed, I thought. My first reaction was protest. I was about to open my mouth to say that I was too tired to endure a grand dinner tonight. But then I realized that it was just naivety. I was not Mr. Hamilton's guest, I was in his service. The invitation contained an order.

Somewhat stubbornly, I dressed in my best dress, though its low neckline and short sleeves left my shoulders bare and exposed to the cold. But in any case, the black moiré went very well with my hair, and the skirt rustled when I moved. I combed my hair up into a high crown and let some of the curls fall over my shoulders.

When I turned away from the dim reflection in the mirror, Betty gaped at me.

- Does it suit me? I asked with a smile.

You look so pretty, miss!

I was right. She turned out to be quite pretty.

Shivering from the cold, I followed Betty into the living room. It was nice to know that in this house I had already found a response in someone's soul, even if it was the soul of a maid. However, the living room surprised me. Usually this is a room reserved for women, but this one did not contain any exquisite Dresden porcelain statuettes or colored curtains. The furniture was old-fashioned and massive, rough-hewn and blackened by antiquity. The walls were hung with engravings of hunting scenes and bristled with the antlers of poor dead deer. Strangely, it was only then that I first thought of Mr. Gavin Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton had a daughter, so he must have had a wife at one time or another. Obviously he was a widower. But I kept wondering why his wife never tried to furnish this room differently.

I hardly took my eyes off the stunning sight of Mrs. Cannon in evening dress to curtsey to my host. He hasn't changed; he was still wearing the same traveling frock coat and the same heavy boots that I had seen him in last night. He asked me about how I endured the trip, and I replied that it was good enough, although this, apparently, was superfluous. The conversation stalled. Mr. Hamilton devoted all his attention to the stout decanter. Mrs. Cannon looked at him like a loyal dog who doesn't know exactly what is expected of her, while I warmed my feet by the fire.

We were invited to dinner by a rather strange man, ugly looking, dressed in a dirty Scottish skirt and jacket. The tartan on the skirt intrigued me, as I thought it was the traditional colors of the Hamiltons, but I couldn't make out the design clearly because of the dirt. An old servant led the procession, carrying a massive silver candelabrum, and we followed him into the older part of the house. The corridor, with its stone floor and stone walls, looked like a long cavern. It was pierced by icy drafts that made the candle flames dance wildly. I felt like I was walking ankle deep in snow. Finally, the old man leaned his shoulder against the massive paneled door, and we entered the dining room.

In the old house, this must have been the main hall. There were candles on the table, which was long enough to seat thirty guests at once, but they gave too little light to overcome the impressive cavernous gloom of the room. Ceiling beams were lost in blackness, something shaped like a giant web hung from them.

The food that had to be carried through all those cold corridors from the kitchen to the west wing came to our table already cold. Mr. Hamilton did not seem to take any notice of this. He spoke animatedly about the antiquities of the castle, and what I at first took for cobwebs turned out to be tattered flags and banners of the Hamiltons of old. The owner also pointed me to the portraits on the walls. I was ready to assume that they were there, but I could not see them. My legs turned to ice. As soon as I could, I immediately began to signal to Mrs. Cannon, showing that I was exhausted, and hoping that, having picked up my signal, she would guess that we could both retire and leave Mr. Hamilton alone with his wine. But she sat with her eyes closed, with the most indefinite smile. I started to get up.

Unlike mountains, rocks are not covered or only slightly, with rare exceptions, are covered with vegetation, among which mosses and lichens predominate. In fact, these are boulders with steep slopes and all kinds of ledges. Like many other geological formations, nature created them over millions of years, thanks to which they received the most incredible outlines, and sometimes colors, so there is something to see here. Protruding above the sea or the valley, the rocks form landscapes of absolutely incredible beauty. Among them there are those that can outshine the most fantastic scenery. These 9 rock formations are a vivid example of the fact that the most skilled craftsman is nature itself.

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

White Cliffs of Dover, UK

Preikestolen, Norway

Cliff of Cabo Girao, Portugal

Kalopapa, Hawaii

Peak Thor, Canada

Half Dome, USA

Etretat, France

Grand Canyon, USA