Richard raised his hand and started to say something. Well I... He stops as he reads the top of the map, and starts to laugh. The laugh is full and hard. He wipes his eyes. It's a G0ddamn zoo. A friggin' Jurassic Park where the spectators got ate. He laughs even harder.
"What is a Jurassic? Is it dangerous?"
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The big warrior reads aloud the words, "The Menagerie", for those who don't understand Vudrani.
"So the whole island is an ancient vudrani research center. Do we know what the ancient vudrani were trying to accomplish", questions Jolis.
Jurassic Park is a story about man's mastery over nature and that it's merely an illusion that quickly collapses under the weight of man's hubris. He sits down next to the 'Old Man'. When I was a kid, I was fascinated by ants. I mean, they behaved like human cultures. The had wars, They built bridges. Hell, They grew crops. How could something with so rudimentary a nervous system show such complex behavior. Richard smiled. I spent my whole summer cutting grass to earn enough for a little vacuum that would suck up bugs and collect them into a little glass vial.
He looks at Jolis. Don't you get it? The storm is the vacuum and the island is the little glass vial. He laughs
"Can't say I disagree with that story. So if this island is made to collect things then who is watching?"
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"You catch on rather quickly," Subhash says, nodding. "Indeed, this island was a zoo of sorts. My estimation puts these buildings at about 1500 years old, although the tampering with the ecosystem could certainly throw that number off quite a bit. I cannot prove that the researchers were killed, however. It's just as likely that they concluded their work, or that their patron grew bored and withdrew his support. After all, you don't build a castle for scientists. Likely some young prince, a third or fourth son with too much time on his hands. They mention him in some of the journals, but never by name. Either way, I don't think anyone has thought about this place in some time."
"As for their motivations," he says, directing his answer to Jolis "I'm sure it wasn't hard to convince the researchers. Being able to study any creature in the world, any creature from any world, any plant, any mineral, with the wealth of a nation backing you? I can't imagine turning down an offer like that. Certainly, this patron had his own agenda, but whatever it was, it was no deal breaker."
Subhash takes a book from the stack in front of him and begins flipping through pages. "According to this journal, there were several 'vacuums' as you put it, spread out across the island. For some reason, the storm engine was reactivated and has been going wild ever since. I believe there may be some sort of controller for all of these in the Palace - whatever accident caused the collapse probably triggered the controller and activated the storm engine again, about 150 years ago."
Richard smiles. Ahhh. Like in Jurassic Park, They lost control of the zoo. Remember, when we were told that the palace was destroyed and they were digging into the rubble to get inside...Only to meet an army digging it's way out. I'd bet that long ago, the builders were running away from something nasty. You know trying to escape. I bet they went to the palace because there is an exit from the island there. And I bet whatever was chasing them turned the upper palace to rubble. There's only one thing I was mistaken about... Richard trails off as he examines the details of the map.
Looking At Subhash, Richard says. But the storms have been bringing humanoids not plants and animals right? In my world I would think that the machines AI was trying to fulfill a directive, the only way it knows how.
Keeping pace, Vitranna tries her best to pace the hunter and not to be taken unaware easily!
"The controller hasn't gone haywire though if the army controls it. But why would they bring in random ships if they control it? Calistria's t##@, this is maddening."
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A small smile creases Jolis's face at the thought of Calistria's breasts.
The big warrior shakes his head to clear it.
Damn! Lera really got my meat sword going this morning!
Richard shakes his head. The army hasn't been here for one hundred and fifty years. No, It is something else. Maybe the machine itself has some sort of consciousness. Maybe it's targeting ships for a reason. Maybe ships give enough protection to get people here safely. Maybe it's people it needs to fulfill some purpose. Remember there is more than one storm gate. We need to find the right one in order to find out why.
"I don't believe there is any sort of will directing the machine -
neither a lingering directive nor any bugbear warlord. Remember, the storms kill far more people than they bring through successfully. And beyond that, who knows! Maybe portals open in the middle of the empty ocean once a week and drop a load of fish in the water around the island. Frankly, I don't have enough information to guess. There's no such machine in this village for me to study."
yarns and looks about.
"So this on the prime or a pocket plane?"
She asks
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Jolis exclaims. "We're on Golarion, right?! We're just on some ..secret undiscovered island! We'd have to be, right?"
Vitranna does not hesitate to follow instructions, but she does give a bewildered look at her guide.
"If the bugbear army can't control the storm then how are we supposed to get home?"
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Well, I'd guess that the bugbear army didn't use the bug collector to get here. They likely used a less intense method...one that didn't dump them from the sky. Something way deep in the palace.
"We need to get to this machine and find out how it works," Grelda says. "If that means smashing a few hundred bugbear skulls along the way, so be it. I haven't had proper exercise in a long time."
Is there a machine, not located in the Palace? If so, where?
"If they had access to this kind of machine, they would have used it. All of our efforts should be about gaining control of the palace."
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Richard looks confused. Which they are you referring to? and why would learning about one of the multiple machines not enemy army controlled have no value? I don't understand your logic. Wouldn't control of one of these machines even the odds of a confrontation? Or even provide the means to bypass a life costing conflict?
"There will be no 'smashing skulls' as long as you expect any assistance from me," Subhash says, suddenly quite serious. "We have a tenuous truce with the mercenaries right now. After what it cost me to earn this peace, no one who jeopardizes it will be welcome in my city. Understood?"
He stares down each of you, letting the silence hang in the air for several seconds before jabbing the map with his fingers. "The other labs were designed more for practical study than this place. The journals lead me to believe they will have machines of their own. However, we've never managed to reach any of them safely. Territorial beasts keep turning us away before we can get close enough to investigate."
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Jolis exclaims. "We're on Golarion, right?! We're just on some ..secret undiscovered island! We'd have to be, right?"
"I don't believe we have left the material plane. While the positions of the stars are not what I am accustomed to, I recognize a few constellations. Those who are more skilled in geography than I estimate we are somewhere off the western coast of Vudra. But whatever plane we are on, this island has certainly been sealed off from the outside world."
Richard pulls out the map from Junk Village and start to make notes from the Menagerie map. Especially the research stations
Jolis winces internally as Grelda brings up bugbear skulls, and tries to remain cool and detached when confronted by Subhash.
"Our apologises", spoke Jolis. "You must excuse my half-orc friend here", the big warrior continued, motioning to Grelda, "yesterday's visit has still angered her warrior's blood."
"I have a question: how long is the temple area downstairs available for worshippers?"
Grelda merely grunts at the old man and keeps the rest of her opinions to herself.
Yes, Threatening bodily harm is just her way of saying hello. First time I met her she mentioned something about breaking my fingers. Richard says of Grelda
"That was to dissuade you from making any lustful advances towards me. I saw the way you were looking at me," the half-orc says. "I have not reconsidered my position, by the way."
But your charming personality makes you so easy to fall in love with. Richard says while keeping his eyes on his work.
"I do not know what passes for love in whatever world you come from, Richard. Perhaps you are mistaking the fluttering sensation in your stomach for indigestion."
Richard knits his eyebrows with a wry smile. Indigestion? well, this whole conversation has gone off the rails. He thought with amusement. Love is a many splendor thing...but rarely does it involve antacid.
Grelda quirks her eyebrow. "I did not know you had an aunt named Acid. I have an uncle named Killmonger."
Yes she's quite a pill. Richard pounds out a rim shot on the table
Grelda barks out a laugh. "That is a poor excuse for drumming. Try this." She grabs her clubs and twirls them around a bit before executing a much more impressive rim shot on her drum, using her breastplate as the cymbal at the end.
The big warrior can help but smile as the investigator and the skald are getting on so well at last.
That's it, Richard! Keep it up! Be Smoooth!
"Vudra? Then we are very far from home indeed," Lera says with a note of pa ic in her voice. "If these ancillary machines worked, more people would have left the island. It was my understanding that the primary way off this island is in that palace. I don't care if we have to sneak in or something, we need to leave. Living life under the heel of a bunch of goblins is no way to live at all."
Hearing the anxiety in Lera's voice, Jolis is pulled out of his reverie. The big warrior puts his arm around her shoulder to help council her.
Jolis whispers "We will get off this island, and anyone else who wants come as well."
Subhash relaxes slightly as the conversation moves away from violence, even allowing himself a small chuckle. "The temple is open at all hours. It used to close in the evenings, but there were so many different religions - some must pray at dawn's first light, some must pray before the setting sun, some must pray when the stars fill the sky. We just leave it open these days. We do close the doors if there is a threat of danger, though."
There are five major research stations on the map. One on the mountain, one on the lake, one near the carnivore grove, one south of where Gerard's village would be, and one in the unmarked section of forest to the northwest. Minor stations dot the map as well - you recognize one as the Broken Tower.
"If these ancillary machines worked, more people would have left the island. It was my understanding that the primary way off this island is in that palace. I don't care if we have to sneak in or something, we need to leave. Living life under the heel of a bunch of goblins is no way to live at all."
"Many have tried, I assure you. But it is not as easy as you seem to believe. Would you have us use the machine at the bottom of the bottomless lake? The one guarded by spiteful druids? And those are just the two we know of."
Taking note of Lera's panic, he does soften his tone slightly. "Listen. I do not intend to spend the rest of my life serving a tyrant, goblin or otherwise. But we must choose our actions carefully, or we will have no lives to live. I have my own plans in motion. I would politely request that you do not spoil them with a suicide mission into the enemy stronghold."
Richard looks up from his finished copying. I have a few plans as well, and suicide is not a part of the equation. He addresses Subhash directly. I hear that the hospital is empty, while here, I'd like the space to use for my work...I'm an alchemist. Maybe Lera can set up shop there to sell her herbal remedies. In trade... Richard pats the books on farming. ...I'll tell you all I know about hydroponics. A proven way to increase growth and yield by half for most plants.
Miya had nothing to add, she had the information she wanted and the others seem to be happy to talk. She just looked over the books seeing if any where about the Ninja arts.
"There's no need to barter with me. Trying to tell the druids how to run their garden is an exercise in futility, and we need to keep the hospital free in case of an emergency. However, if you have wares to sell you are free to set up in any unused space in the market. Just put your sign up on any empty space."
"As for alchemy, we can do better than a makeshift lab in a hospital. Erik, why don't you show our guests upstairs."
The young man steps forward again and nods. "Yes, sir. If you would follow me."
Subhash stays behind as his secretary leads anyone who wishes to follow back to the stairs and up the next three flights. On the third and fourth floor, you find more and more rows of bookshelves. At the top, you step out into a long hall lined with several iron doors. Erik takes a key ring from his pocket and opens the one on the far right. Inside is a lab, fully equipped for alchemy, chemistry, and more. While some of the equipment is certainly outdated, a cursory glance tells you anything you need for most experiments will be here. The space is conspicuously absent of any sort of ingredients or crafting materials however. "We don't have many alchemists here, so this area remains mostly unused. Never any dust though. Whatever keeps the books looking new extends up here as well."
Checks the room for danger, then waits by Richard
Jolis looks around and lets out a long whistle of amazement.
"Nice little laboratory you got here, Richard."
"If the Dryads don't want you accessing the machines, they likely have a good reason," Lera says insistently.
She follows the rest to the alchemist's laboratory. Looking around, Lera is suitably impressed.
"Nice set up you have here. Maybe you can make me some potions, Richard," Lera says with a wink. "I won't be bothering you up here too much though. I only need a cauldron and access to that garden. Some of my more intensive remedies work better when made in the open air under the moonlight."
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Jolis looks mildly surprised. "Making potions under moonlight is real? I always thought that was just something bards would sing to give their songs more mystery. I did not know that."
Lera smirks. "I suspect that there is much you don't know. The night is sacred and the moon has a powerful effect on the planet. My powers thrive in darkness and mystery. It isn't a science to understand; it's an art to feel."
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Jolis nods in acceptance. "'An art to feel'. Nicely put."
The big warrior knows there's a joke in there about feeling being an art, but he can't make it funny, so he leaves the thought alone.
Jolis sighs, "Well, I assume Richard will want to get acquainted with his new workshop. I still need to gather supplies for Durga this morning. Do any of your ladies wish to accompany me on my task? It sounds like a great way to find out more about Ruin Village and see what else it offers."
"Sorry, Jolis. I have to gather supplies at the garden provided the fey will let me. However, I know someone who would be all too happy to accompany you..."
With a yip, Viska jumps up into Jolis' arms, fully expecting him to carry the fox all day.