Holg smiles back at Viv, already expecting for an interesting night.
The Kellid launches himself against the jelly fish with a vital strike "You got into the wrong lake to fish!"
Viv flings another metal shard halfheartedly, pretty sure that the rest of the team has this covered.
Fireday catches up to the creature and begins his own attack!
Your combined assault quickly overwhelms the lone alien, and it falls, purplish ichor leaking through the cracks in its carapace.
Three fibrous curtains exit this large chamber: one to the northwest and one to the west, and one to the southeast. (You came in from the northeast.)
"Ah! It already starts to smell better here" Holg closes his nostrils with a couple of fingers while the alien jelly fish dissolves into nothingness.
The Kellid holds up his symbol of Gorum and channels energy to heal the scorching carried by the group.
"Those things have an awful technology. Why they made those inventions and why they had to bring them to Numeria?" Holg contemplates the different possibilities to move forward "I guess there is not much difference on what way we go next, isn't it?"
Randomly picking unless someone has a suggestion, the gorumite slashes the fibers to open the western pass.
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Strings of tissue hang rancid and foul from the ceiling of this hourglass-shaped room. What may have once been some form of partially biological control panels line the western walls, but today they’ve all decayed into foulness.
Three horrible creatures lurk here. These crab-like nightmares have lamprey mouths, twitching eyes on their legs, and several blisters along their backs that seem to hold humanoid brains. The hulking monsters regard you for a moment before scuttling forward to attack!
The creatures take a few moments to cast spells, raising shields of force in front of them.
"These are the brain collectors of the Dominion!" Isuma shouts, readying her rifle.
"Good thing we finally met with them!" Holg seems enthusiastic by the idea of fighting the creatures without care for them being brain eaters.
Walking forward while climbing up in the air for 10 feet, Holg brings up Gorum's symbol while saying words of power "Gorum burn the brain collectors in the fires of battle!!!"
Fifteen can just get into melee range and does so with a swift blow.
Molly takes a step away from the group to get a clearer shot and selects the one her fiancée has chosen.
Strings of tissue hang rancid and foul from the ceiling of this hourglass-shaped room. What may have once been some form of partially biological control panels line the western walls, but today they’ve all decayed into foulness.
Three horrible creatures lurk here. These crab-like nightmares have lamprey mouths, twitching eyes on their legs, and several blisters along their backs that seem to hold humanoid brains. The hulking monsters regard you for a moment before scuttling forward to attack!
The creatures take a few moments to cast spells, raising shields of force in front of them.
"These are the brain collectors of the Dominion!" Isuma shouts, readying her rifle.
"FOR ISUMA AND IOMEDAE!" Fireday yells as the battle is joined. "GRANT MY FERVOR TO MY FRIENDS TO BRING US VICTORY!"
The divine power fills him, then radiates to the rest of the group, like the sun.
"Ummmm... you I guess," says Viv as she picks a target at random.
As Kaska begins her raging song, Fifteen rushes forward to slice one of the aliens. Viv blasts the same one, and Molly shoots the flat-footed creature three times, causing it to sag and collapse, purplish ichor pouring out of its wounds.
Holg's flame strike only affects one of the remaining brain collectors, and it manages to dodge the worst of the divine fire. Fireday bolsters himself and his allies with magic.
One of the brain collectors casts a spell and fires a crackling lightning bolt towards Fifteen and Molly, but with the resistance spell still active, it has no effect! The other one attempts to paralyze Viv with its magic.
Molly takes another step away from the group, reloading and firing at greater speed due to Fireday's spell.
Fifteen follows Molly's lead this time and rushes in after the bullets.
Viv halts in mid-air.
"Those are greatly protected against magic!" Holg curses while grasping his light casting greatsword with both hands "That is a symptom Gorum wants more blood!"
Accepting the raging song, the man moves forward focusing his fury and delivering a vital strike on the orange crab.
Empowered by faith, Fireday charges ahead to aid Holg and Fifteen!
He streaks across the battlefield like a comet and calls on Iomedae to protect him, hardening his skin to iron.
Upon reaching the creature, Fireday strikes hard!
Molly's hail of bullets finishes off the wounded brain collector. Fifteen, Holg, and Fireday all converge on the last one, and with all of their powerful strikes, they take it down before it can react again!
Viv recovers quickly from the paralysis, and you move on to the next chamber while all of Fireday's buff spells are still ongoing. The smell in this humid chamber still holds the foul stink of rot, but a cloyingly sweet scent mingles with it. To the southwest, the ceiling rises from its initial ten feet to nearly twenty-five feet, where what appears to be an immense iron and glass cauldron hangs from coils of metal and muscle chains and cords. The inside of the cauldron churns with fluid, shaking against its restraints.
A booming telepathic voice sounds in your minds: "Who are you? Why are you here?"
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Holg quickly approaches Viv after the brain collector crabs fall "Are you ok Voltine? What happened?"
As the group walks in the next chamber, Holg walks up in the air trying to have a better glimpse of what is being cooked in the cauldron.
The Kellid startles when the voice booms in his head Wait, what happens to my inner voice today? Holg you are looking for the cam, whatever that is, don't you remember? And also promised Isuma to expel the dominion of the black from Numeria. It is no time to have inner doubts. What would others think if they see you doubt? For the Glory, blood for Gorum!!! the man resumes his walk towards the Cauldron swinging his blade in the air.
Fifteen doesn't respond but does start moving sideways so there is no straight line between her and Molly.
Molly also begins moving in the opposite direction.
Molly also begins moving in the opposite direction.
The liquid sloshes in the container again as Holg strides determinedly towards it. The Kellid can see wisps of white gas occasionally escape the roiling viscous fluid. Again, the voice sounds in your heads. "You do not answer! Are you sentient beings?!? Did you slay the neh-thalggus in the adjoining chamber? Are you here to destroy the Dominion?"
Viv replies to Holg, "Some sorcery paralyzed my body. Seems to have worn off now."
To the telepathic voice she responds, "Why should we listen to you? We trust nothing in this place of foul ichor and rotting pseudo-flesh."
"Because I am dying, and it is the Dominion's fault. If you are here to destroy them, then my vengeance shall be known. You, small fleshlings, shall be my new body's instrument for my murder!" The liquid seems to shudder and sigh.
"We are here to destroy the Dominion." Fifteen says carefully. "What do you propose?"
Holg reels back as he hears Viv talking "Are you also listening to that voice in my head?"
Then looking back at the liquids, the man starts to laugh "Is this liquid the voice talking to us?"
"Ok, let's see... do you have a name? What are the neh-thalggus and why do you want to revenge against the Dominion?" the man performs a skillful gesture with the sword "Because we are indeed here to destroy them, but being the body instrument of an overconfident alien soup does not rate high in my priorities"
"I am The-Stars-Whisper," the telepathic voice says. "I am the mind of this ship, but as my body rots, so too does my intellect slowly degenerate. But of course, entropy is the true nature of existence--—all life exists only to feed the grave, and it is as one decays that one can truly experience the truth of the universe.
"The neh-thalggus are the beings that drove me here. They crashed me on the surface of this forsaken planet and left me to decay while they sought out the brains they so desperately crave. They MURDERED me! They, and all the other beings of the Dominion of the Black, deserve to suffer for their crime!
"I propose you journey to their hive nearby and eradicate them. There is a small cache of equipment in the chamber to the northeast. It may aid you in your task. Among the cache are several scent glands that can be used to confuse the sentient walls of the Dominion hive. You will need them if you hope to infiltrate undetected."
A ruined flesh valve opens up in the wall, revealing several fluid-filled, blisterlike chests.
"The only one truth of the universe is life is a continuous fight for survival from the first breath of air. You stop to fight and you are overwhelmed by the forces of chaos. I assume that's what you called entropy The-Stars-Whisper" Holg nods in partial accordance with the angry liquid.
Holg is surprised when one of the walls opens "How did you do that? What is this place we are in?"
Nevertheless he walks into the next room and tries to open the blisterlike chests "Your rage keeps you alive. We will see to put this aid to the purpose of defeating the Dominion"
"I told you. You are within the dying remains of my body. I still have some control over it, though I can no longer soar through the stars with my brethren," the shipmind says.
As Holg starts to move towards the chest, the voice speaks again. "But, I wonder, can fleshlings as you even stand against the might of the Dominion? I must know. If you die to me I shall know you were weak, but if you do not—I die knowing you can do what must be done!"
The liquid in the cauldron bubbles wildly as energy begins to gather in the air above it!
A bolt of plasma fires out at Holg!
Holg is surprised by the back-stab but he turns back smiling "Yes! Let's fight to find out who deserves defeating the Dominion of the Black!!!"
Entering into a furious rage the man walks up in the air to reach the cauldron 20 feet up and smash it with all his strength.
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Viv rises about five feet off the ground, turning slowly as she goes. Her arms are outstretched like a ballerina's pirouette, but as she finishes the turn her arms come in and the air between her hands seems to shift and roil. A greenish light flickers into existence in the center and then lances out as she throws her hands out toward the cauldron.
Fireday barely has time to respond to their victory before they're interrogated by The-Stars-Whisper. He mostly remains quiet as the bizarre entity harangues them with questions and rants about its suffering.
"I...am unsure to say whether I pity you, The-Stars-Whisper. But justice is what you seek, and the ones you call enemies are our enemies too. I swear, under the eyes of Heaven, in the name of Iomedae and all the angels and saints, my sword will deliver the justice you demand. We thank you for your generous gift to do so..."
While he doesn't speak, he raises his weapon in a salute to punctuate the oath in his head. But then it is interrupted by the creature's decision to test their prowess and Holg's gleeful acceptance of the challenge.
"Very well," he says aloud with a sigh. "We will grant you the merciful end to your suffering you seek as well."
He joins Holg in attacking, Iomedae's blessing coursing through his arms.
Fifteen advances, pulling a pistol from her belt and shooting at the cauldron as she goes.
Molly rolls her eyes in disgust as the rotting brain of the ship makes a decision worthy of its condition. With a target as big as the cauldron, it's hard for her to miss.
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Fifteen, Viv, and Molly open fire on the cauldron. While it resists Viv’s disintegration, the combined assault leaves it seriously damaged. The liquid inside lashes out at Holg as he closes the distance, but his armor keeps him safe. Holg delivers the finishing blow, shattering the cauldron and causing the ooze within to spill out onto the floor, where Fireday slices at it!
The ooze thrashes about, slowly dying without its protective container. Still, it does its best to fight back, landing a lucky blow on Holg that disrupts his thoughts with alien psychic energy!
Again surprised by the alien mind tricks, Holg shrugs of the psychic energy. If there is any intelligence there to take, it is very deep concealed below Kellid believes and passion for life.
"I see you spilled. Enjoy your defeat because it is a foreword vision of your final vengeance against the Dominion!" Holg adjust his position to take full profit of Fireday's fervor and strike multiple times.
Molly takes a moment to clear the misfire from her musket.
Fifteen steps in to help, swapping pistol for sword as she does so.
Fireday presses the attack, though he rolls his eyes at Holg's quip.
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You slice and dice the ooze, though it seems resilient to physical damage. Viv blasts the ooze with force, then Isuma unloads her zero rifle into it. It is vulnerable to cold, and with each blast, the ooze crystallizes until it freezes solid. With a mighty blow, Holg shatters its body to pieces!
With the threat neutralized, you are able to take stock of the cache of treasure. It includes 16 yellow topazes worth 500 gp each, 7 black star sapphires worth 1,000 gp each, a suit of +3 banded mail, a staff of healing, a blue veemod, a rocket launcher, and an ingenuity facet for an AI.
In addition, one of the pods contains a dozen small spongy spheres that reek of something akin to ammonia. These are scent glands that can be used to confuse the sentient walls of the Dominion hive. A single gland is enough to render a person undetectable to the hive’s walls for 24 hours.
You have finished exploring the dropship and feel stronger for your recent experiences. The Dominion hive awaits!
Holg smiles and greets the defeat of The-Stars-Whisper "Well fought"
After checking if everything is ok, the Kellid explores the cache and helps take everything the party finds useful "A staff of healing... that is interesting, do you want to use it Fireday? I know Iomedae likes to help others. Otherwise Gorum would be pleased if I use it to have us ready for as many combats as possible"
"This was a great training, I feel more prepared now. Do you want to pass the night here? We are almost next by the hive. We would save a lot of time" Holg takes a slice of cheese and eats it hungrily.
"I think simply for health reasons it might be preferable to back out of this place before we rest," says Viv. "This strong rotting smell, and being surrounded by decaying pseudo-flesh, cannot be good for one's health."
"Agreed." Fifteen says, with a swift glance at Molly who is still suffering. "We should leave as soon as possible."
She helps to remove the various valuables but generally insists that everyone move sooner rather than later to get Molly away from the smell.
Holg follows Viv's eyes and looks at Molly's pales face "Oh. Yes... mmm... I really feel bad here. Why don't we just go camp at the forest outside?" the Kellid smiles and starts walking out of the place.
"If this is alive the most unforgiving thought is in what belly this place was born?" the man negates with the head confused "Why did I not ask The-Stars-Whisper?"
Once out, Holg looks for a good place for camping.
Even with her stomach roiling, Molly still takes time to recover whatever materials she can find on their way out to convert into ammunition for her hungry musket.
The halfling's relief at leaving the rotting body of the huge creature is clearly visible as she takes a long breath of fresh air once they exit the ship/corpse. She pulls the pieces of material from her nose and tosses them aside.
"I think I'll pass on supper tonight," is her only comment.
Later in the evening Fifteen comes to sit beside Molly, holding a bowl and a plate. "It is important that you eat." She says. "I have prepared plain food for you. It should help to settle your stomach." Fifteen sits cross-legged and pulls the halfing into her lap before giving her the soup and bread.
Then she gently pulls Molly's hair to the side and begins to work gently on her shoulders with two long fingers.
"The food should calm your stomach and make the nausea recede." She says softly. "The massage is to help with tension, and because I like touching you."
Molly knows that Fifteen has no concept of innuendo. That comment was genuine, if unfortunate.
"When I was a kid I was having continual stomach problems too. Father said it was just the land of Numeria testing me" the Kellid pads his belly, the skin full of blisters and scars "With time you just get used to the food and water of this unforgiving land" he gives a worried look at Molly and offers Fifteen some of Mad Paeytr's carrots for the soup.
Heading to Viv, the man talks to her whispering, his warm breath soothing the android's deepest parts of the ear "I still remember what we left pending in that pit of the living vessel" he offers her a naughty smile.