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Blanmieux's two slams with his mighty earthbreaker send the bony fiend reeling, but it still stands...
For a moment at least, until Crios' second strike shatters it within its torn suit. The bones fall as its 'gun' clatters on the ground.
As the final skeleton goes forcefully to rest, you have time to look around the room they seem to have died in (or at least been drawn to in the afterlife). While the three strange suits each tall bony figure wore seem beyond repair, in a corner there stands a closet of sorts containing six more of the outfits in preserved condition. Meanwhile, picking up the strange pistol, you notice it seems to be activated by a trigger button. There is a glass row possibly indicating the 'lightning' ammunition left in the device, with five blocks still lit.
This magical full-body suit completely protects the wearer from temperature extremes (as if by endure elements) and pressure dangers of hard vacuum and all worlds in the system (save the sun), though it only carries enough air for 3 days before it must be recharged in breathable atmosphere (such as that inside a ship). If the suit’s seal is broken—such as the helmet being removed to eat or drink—all the air escapes in 2d6 rounds.
A suit with a broken seal confers only the benefits of endure elements. The suit automatically repairs small holes, but if it is struck by a critical hit from a piercing or slashing weapon, the wearer of the pressure suit must succeed at a Re ex save (DC equal to the opponent’s confirmation roll) or the seal breaks. A suit with a broken seal can be repaired with a DC 18 Craft (armor) check or a make whole spell. The suit does not compensate for changes in gravity. Wearing a pressure suit imposes a –1 armor check penalty; this penalty stacks with those provided by other equipment (such as armor). Since it takes up both the body and head slots, armor can be worn over a pressure suit, but robes and helms cannot.
it and its target.
It is an Exotic one-handed Range Weapon, that fires bolts as ranged touch attacks for 1d8 electricity damage. Arc pistols gain a +2 circumstance bonus on attack rolls against targets that are metal or are wearing medium or heavy metal armor. Each shot uses one charge, of which this has 5 remaining.
Arc pistols are also semi-automatic: the user can take a full-attack action to fire twice, as if using the Rapid Shot feat (including taking a –2 penalty on all attacks). If the wielder has the Rapid Shot feat, she can use the additional shot from that as well, but the penalty for all shots fired in that round increases to –6.
In another sealed crate, you notice a series of liquids of various colors packed within tubes with injecting needles at one end. There is also a stick of black wood and a sheet of parchment with incantations scrawled on it.
Finally, the desks and monitors have a multitude of buttons and gauges arrayed around them, while multiple partially exposed wires ring the room. A minute of so search seems to imply this was a control room of sorts for the ship, but much of it seems to be low on power and several components are damaged or disconnected. You might be able to partially repair it if you wanted. Maybe....
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Crios heals his own wounds, offering the healing to Blanmieux as well. Seeing Jade has made use of her own healing, he heads over to the professor and uses a charge on him.
Crios knows that Kivuli is there best bet for gaining any use of the controls, but he has little to offer by way of assistance. Perhaps my knowledge of engineering might help he thinks to himself.
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The Professor pokes the fallen skeleton a few times with his wand before tucking in back in his belt. He grins thanks to Crios as the inky black infernal healing washes over him.
"Tingly, but not unpleasant..."
He then directs his attentions to the spacesuits.
"Six spacesuits? Surely no coincidence. I suggest we don these immediately as there's just no telling when one will walk into an anti-magic field and lose one's planar binding..."
The Professor smiles briefly as he imagines dozens of Pathfinders floating away from the asteroid as if its gravity field could somehow be disabled, then shudders as his imagination has them hurtling towards the sun moments later.
"Well, what's this? Some sort of control apparatus? Uh, Kivuli, not the red wire -- surely that would kill us all? Err, uh, try the.. red one?"
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Following the wisdom of his elder, Crios dons one of the suits, and then takes the remove disease potion and a cure light wounds potion, stuffing both in his pack. He helps anyone else into a suit that wants to wear one.
" Might I suggest that one of you ladies carry the pistol, or perhaps Kivuli could use it to power the devices we come across?"
He then looks around the room for any other way out from the one they came in.
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Kivuli takes to the attempted repairs like a wayang to shadow. Once in the system, he finds it surprisingly intuitive despite being unable to fully understand much of the labeling With Crios and the Professor holding the wires and metal steady, handing him tools, and at one key juncture yanking the rogue back just in time to avoid him being shocked by a surge, the three work together and its not long before a loud humming sound fills the room. Several of the screens stop flashing red (at least as much), and you hearing a roaring flame above you from the direction you entered.
Just as the ship starts being coaxed back to life, you raise your weapons as you hear something else coming down the cooridoor! And lower them as that thing is Venture Captain Callisaro Bennary.
"Bah!" the half-orc pirate says as she looks around. "They sent me over to this end because they thought 'Oh, Callisaro, you do ships, right?'" She spits in annoyance. "Should have sent a Numerian expert. I'm beginning to miss the Gloomspires already. Ah, but that's on them. I take it from your sheepish expressions your responsible from the gout of fire that just started shooting out from this? Well good! One of this hunk of metal's engines just lit up. With luck more Pathfinders might be able to follow your lead and get the rest going - it's hot as Hades outside and anything to push us away from that damned sun's fun by me."
Her face darkens. "We've been getting conflicting reports all across this rock. I don't know what Sorinna was expecting to find here, but on top of all the normal weird and strange creatures there's plenty of signs that several of them are organized. Why and for what the gods only know. But we just spotted some four-armed giants not far off on the lava fields starting to build some strange thing. Looked just bizarre to me but my caster friend blanched white: apparently the contraption looks like its meant to disrupt portals on the rock, including the one that'll get us home!"
"I need men and women to shut it down and you're the ones here to do it. Break it, sabotage it, ask them to just go away: I don't care how its done but if we want to get off this rock it should be done soon!"
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Keriassa struggles to put on her suit. "We should all put these on, as the Professor makes a good point. We don't want to end up like these poor souls getting trounced by another group of Pathfinders in a thousand years because we weren't careful."
Nodding to Captain Benarry "Perhaps we can be a little more diplomatic going forward. We are doing a lot of killing, and I fear we may leave this hunk of rock without a clear picture of what exactly is going on...just a thought."
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The Professor blinks in shock at the latest report.
"There's... four armed giants? What are they armed with? More electricity-throwers or plasma-bows? I mean really, aren't all giants armed, even if it's just a two-ton boulder?"
The Professor begins hobbling in the general direction of the portals under assault before turning to the others.
"Well now? Come on!"
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"I agree that using diplomacy should be our first approach, unless of course there is obvious hostile intent by the other side. Undead will not be dealt with peacefully but these giants the captain mentioned could be." Crios states calmly.
Grabbing the remaining items of value, if not for use then at least for further study in the archives, Crios begins to head in the direction the Captain suggested.
"Coming professor." he says to the elderly gnome.
Looking quickly to the others, he motions with his head, urging them to come along. It doesn't take much and the group is on the move.
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Moving out from the cramped but cooler ship back into the oppressive heat of the asteroid’s surface you head in the direction VC Benary noticed the giants lurking about. After minutes of navigating the hot and rough terrain, you finally find them (or you hope it’s them. If not, that menas there’s multiple giants wandering around.)
A trio of grey-skinned goliaths stand almost ten-feet tall, each lean and muscled. Both of their chests are covered by some sort of strange leather harness while two of their four arms carry weapons – two creatures a pair of longswords while the other some long sort of rifle.
You duck behind a large set of boulders as you peek out to spy at them from a distance. The three figures seem to be tinkering with a series of red boxes strewn around the area, each connected to each other by a set of thick cables. In the center of their workspace is a large thick post topped with a hemisphere, almost like a twenty-foot tall mushroom. Observing the activity, you see that the objects occasionally shift or pulse. While you are too far away to make out specific words, the trio of creatures sound as though they are speaking in Giant.
While the aasimar is dumbfounded by the massive creatures, Blanmieux recognizes them from descriptions and reports he has heard of the Shobad: monstrous humanoids not of your world but occasionally found on other planets in the system, especially Akiton . Native to lower gravities and colder terrain the are renowned for their ferocity in battle.
Kivuli also believes he recalls some lore about the creatures. Shobad are born into tight-knit tribal clans and are typically nomadic. While their native tongue is Giant, some have picked up other common or esoteric tongues in their wanderings. Occasionally shobad find work as mercenaries however, and they operate under strict codes of conduct and honor that belie their barbaric reputation. Those rules tend to mostly only apply to other shobad though - they see most other species as "lesser".
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"Well we certainly qualify as lesser, when it comes to size at least. We can work with that, and try not to be hostile. Anyone want to come with me while I try to speak with them?"
Crios prepares to step out from behind the rocks and introduce himself, but he gives his team a chance to both respond and prepare themselves before he does so.
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After his team responds...
He takes out his wand of shield and activates its magic and then replaces it in the sheath before stepping out. He speaks clearly in common at first and then uses his other languages until one is understood.
"Greetings oh great beings of legend. I come in peace and with great respect. I am called Crios and have recently arrived here. May I approach for communications?"
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Keriassa approaches the largest one (assuming him to be the leader).
"We have come to this "world" to learn of its secrets and to then depart. It seems as though the work you are doing may prevent us from achieving that end. Is there any way we can convince you to pause your efforts long enough for us to complete our mission and leave?"
As you set out from your cover and walk forward, one of the shobad notices you and barks out a call to the others. The three quickly stand, two largest pointing his longrifle at you.
As Keriassa and Crios step slowly forwards, their and Blanmieux's calm tones cause the three aliens to relax slightly. When you cycle through several languages in order to start a conversation, you see a flicker of recognition as Crios speaks Draconic, but the others only result in furrowed brows. The rifleman motions for you to stop several yards away. The three bark in Giant at each other before the shobad with the gun replies in heavily accented 'Common'
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Looking to Keriassa and then back to the shobad, "I am Crios and we are with a peace seeking group called the Pathfinder Society. We are on a fact finding mission from our world, and if you finish setting up your device, it will interfere with our ability to return home. We merely wish you to delay in setting up until we can finish our mission. I will now translate for my friends." he says in draconic, and then translates to common for his team.
I know Kivuli understands draconic, but I have doubts everyone else does.
[ooc]They seems to understand Draconic and speak it slightly better than Common. Between the two, let's assume all of this is being communicated and translated to everyone.
the leading shobad snorts.
It says, nodding to the device being constructed. From this closer range, you see that the objects are not fully solid, but made of a red sand that slowly shifts and binds together as if it was imbued with its own will.
One of the other shobad speaks in Giant, causing the primary speaker to turn and reply. All three chat confer quickly in thier strange tongue before looking back at you.
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"These are not demands. As fellow explorers, it is hoped we can find a solution agreeable to both groups. As to what we have discovered, in addition to various elementals, we found a craft of some sort that has crashed mere minutes from here. What remained of the crew were undead, but they had a weapon similar to what you wield. As to the time needed, not every Society member was protected through magic. I doubt that they would have the fortitude to last more than a day. That is too much to ask you, but perhaps twelve hours would be enough time."
"Maybe if we had a better understanding of the nature of your research, we would speak to our people and explain the situation."
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The Professor, clearly distracted by the group of Shobad mutters away to himself.
"Ah! Four-armed giants! As in, giants-with-four-arms! You'd think VC Bennary could be a little more clear on these matters in the future..."
He stands behind Kivuli as his fellow "gnome" speaks, adding to the offers of aid.
"Ah yes, exchanging of ideas! Or perhaps once you are done with your current mission, you could be hired on for more? Contemplatives of Ashok you say? How long have you taken on with those, ah, err, fellows?"
the lead shobad exclaims. He turns and utters a phrase in Giant to his companions, who immediately begin braking back and forth to each other in their tongue. Eventually turning back towards you, one seems unhappy as the gun-wielder speaks.
There is more murmuring amongst the three. Then: he takes out and holds a large tarp.
the lead shobad shifts its longrifle to its lower pair of arms as it extends one of its massive upper hands out towards you.
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"We have an Accord. Peace and good fortune to you. We look forward to possible further dealings with you when this business is done, if you are amenable to that idea" Crios says to the lead shobad in his typical calm manner while reaching out his hand in agreement.
Just do what we have to the captain said. I think this fits that description quite well.
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And with a shake, the deal is struck.
One of the shobad begins partially dismantling and securing the sand-structure, while the other two take the measure of you while gazing at the asteroid's horizon. You learn their names are Brithok, Gribot, and Lokti. Lokti in particular seems bemused by your offers to come meet in Absalom.
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"The Fossil King you say? That is interesting. From what I have found through several sources, the 'Fossilized King' is the most common title given to Ayrzul - the evil elemental lord who rules over much of the Plane of Earth. According to the... my sources... he has never been seen outside his Blistering Labyrinth. It has been said he is a powerful demigod of earth and destruction, whose symbol is a fossilized dinosaur tooth."
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"Oh we'll get back, that's certain. It's quite fascinating you see, our Society all but guarantees those members with enough prestige will have teams sent after them until they're brought back to Absalom."
The Professor mumbles for a moment to himself.
"Uh, that's on Golarion... right.. err, there."
He points to their planet.
"And the Fossil King you say? I wonder what he could be up to here.. no elementals of the air persuasion? That's odd, isn't it?"
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"Are there any other minions of other elemental lords currently on this rock that you know of?" Crios asks the shobad leader.
Then to his team in common, "I think we should see if we can make it a little easier for the other pathfinder groups to cross the Sea of Fire like we have. It is dangerous I know, but after we get at least one more group across, then we should explore those tunnels and craters by the ship for a way deeper inside. What do you all think?"
The shobad mention that so far they themselves have seen and needed to avoid some earth and fire creatures. Their Contemplative employers only noticed the overt mark of Ayrzul on certain defenders, but their own divinations were unable to penetrate much below the asteroid's surface.