GM Rednal's Legendary Planet AP (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Phai also seemed content and ready to go, looking to Vincent to see if he had any more questions.

"Thank you for your time. If we uncover anything that can help repair the damaged orb, we'll be sure to return to let you know." Their business concluded, Vincent followed the others out to recover their belongings and head out.

All right! Roll Survivial, please - and tell me which route you'd like to take. ^^ Otherwise, it's GM's choice... *Ominous laughter*

Along the riverbed seems the most sensible, and therefore shall be the most deadly.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Next to the river seems good. Inside the river bed seems like it gives very little vision of the surrounding areas and screams for an ambush. I still advocate leaving town in a different direction, then cutting over to the riverbed under cover of Pass without Trace. If we leave early enough in the morning, we can do so under cover of darkness, without journeying too far from the city.
Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

I defer to my more wildernessy oriented companions on this one; I'm happy to take an alternate route out of town, then double back with the help of magic.

Survival (aid, if possible): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

As the dry riverbed passes beyond the confines of Trebelbet, signs of civilization fade. Days of traveling have seen few signs of life as the river doubles back on itself several times in a snake-like fashion. Eventually, it broadens into a huge canyon filled with the rhythmic chanting of humanoids caked head to toe in sun-baked mud. They sit upon flat stones, arms raised to the cloudless sky. A number of misshapen slabs of tin and wood also lie scattered across the ground all around them.

Tilting his head, Isen looked slightly confused. "You would have thought that they would have mentioned this," he asked, scratching his head for a moment. "Do we go through or try going around the canyon?"

"The baron didn't tell us that much about St. Albat's. Are you sure this isn't it? It would make sense if they're farmers trying to farm moss to do it inside the canyon where there might be more shade, no? Either way, I suggest we talk to them and see who they are. Even if it isn't St. Albat's, perhaps they know something that could be helpful."

"Give me a moment to think.", Phai stops Vincent from approaching them.
"That does seem like a ceremony of sorts, not like farming...and I see little shelter. If this is some kind of holy ritual, I'd rather not interrupt them, and rather wait and see if they pay us attention."
Phai tried to remember the research she had done in the Baron's Library, to see if anything applicable came to mind upon seeing the scene before them.

Take 10 for whatever Knowledge is applicable. Religion or Local would be a 16?
Also, I'm fine with talking to them, I would just delay a bit and see if they react to us first, rather than outright approach them.

@Phai: You're pretty sure this is St. Albat's.

The mud-caked people seem aware of your approach, but they don't respond, focusing instead on their rhythmic chanting.

"For some reason I thought this would take longer," Isen said, looking around. It certainly wasn't what he pictured when he thought of a place of religious learning, but the Galaxy was a big place. He looked around to see if anyone was not chanting.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"Definitely not what I expected, but it would seem we arrived at Saint Albats.", Phai shaked her head.
"I certainly hope we're missing part of the picture here, so far. Unless they magically control the weather, they'd need shelter, at the least. And unless they magically produce food, they won't survive long doing THAT all day."
With that, Phai settled down at a respectable distance from the mud-caked humanoids. Clearly, she expected this to be some temporary ritual, and saw no reason to disturb it...
Willing to wait to the evening if necessary. Not like we have much to do other than try and talk, may as well relax in the shade and see if it turns out we simply arrived during prayer hour. (specifically, the kind of "holy chanting hour of bringing death to outsiders that interrupt our holy duty" or something equally kinky.)

"Maybe they're like me and don't need food? Can't really tell with all the mud on them. If you want to wait for a bit, I can respect that. No use making a bad impression."

As Vincent found a nice place to sit down and rest, Axis emerged from his stylized etching. After a few moments of swirling about gazing towards the mud caked people, the wyrd dove down to the ground and began to play with the small stones nearby.

The twelve monks(?) you see continue their chanting. However, as Isen peers around, he notices a number of lines and circular patterns on the ground near where they're sitting. They distinctly resemble (but are not a perfect match for) the bits of the Opus Aeterna you've seen.

Interesting, Isen considered as he pointed them out to the others, I wonder what the differences could mean?

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Perhaps the creators of the Opus Aeterna had a hand in creating this place? Axis, can you fly up high and see if you can get a good view? Maybe you can see it all at once from high up, and get a better grasp of what's going on."

Axis paused in its juggling of stones to stare flatly at Vincent for a moment, then simply dropped the stones to the ground and spiraled up into the air for a wider view. It returned a moment later and described what it could.

If any knowledge checks are appropriate, Axis has +8 to Kn. Arcana, Geography or Planes, and +7 to everything else.

"We should take note of the differences, either way. On the off-chance that the current calibration is wrong...", Phai commented.

On closer inspection - well, as close as you could get without actually approaching the distant monks and disturbing them - it looked like someone had tried to make copies of the kind of text found on the pages of the Opus Aeterna. However, while much care had been put into them, they seemed... less than complete. There were quite a few small errors, enough to throw the entire meaning off.

Isen wondered if there was something here that would lead to why the Gate her only functioned to receive, if someone had attempted something based off these poor copies. Or perhaps something else, attempts to modify the Gate to function here? It was more likely they were simply errors, but you never knew.

"We're going to have to ask the monks I think. We can rest here and wait until morning if they don't stop before then if you'd like Phai."

*Pokes Phai*

"Aye, it would seem like a sensible option."
Phai took another look at the patterns...if only to make sure that she could state with certainty that there was something wrong with them.
With a louder voice, she continued: "And we should point out that the entire meaning of these passages would be altered if some of those patterns were to match with the scripture known to us; if they were complete."

I think waiting and resting is the polite thing, and I'll gladly go for that. But maybe we should try and get a reaction out of them, have them come to us? Not sure, but sleep-deprived and ready for anything.

Either plan is workable, of course. ^^ They're pretty focused on what they're doing, but they don't seem mind-controlled or suicidally dedicated or anything. Prompting a reaction is almost certainly possible.

Isen nodded. "Perhaps we can dicuss the differences in time," he added in a voice that would hopefully carry. "If not, we shall have to explore later," he added to the others in his normal tone.

"Well, we're not in a hurry. I'll paint the scene, it will make for a good journal entry...", Phai states, and begins to do so.
Craft(Painting): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

I think we were mostly in agreement not to disturb them initially and wait a couple hours, asssuming they'll take a bathroom break eventually, or go drink a bit, or pack up and move into the shade. Or get more mud. Or anything, really. I'd guess if they are not taking a break from their chanting for half a day, then waiting longer may not produce any different results in the near future, so drawing their attention in some other way may be necessary.

After they were satisfied the monks weren't planning on stopping their chanting anytime soon, Vincent led the group up to greet one of them.

"Excuse me, we don't mean to intrude, but is this St. Albat's? We were told that St. Albat's would be the best place to look for information about the gates and the history of this place and were hoping you might be able to help us?"

The monk Vincent spoke to briefly paused in his rhythmic chanting, but resumed a bit louder than before. At the same time, the monk brought one finger up to his own lips and tapped them before lowering his hand.

Isen looked at the others. "I suppose we should be quiet?" The rogue shrugged. This ritual couldn't last forever, and they had no time frame.

"That, or..."
Phai pulled free a few sheets of paper from her parchments, putting lines and circular patterns on them, from memory, and with help from Isen and Vincent.
The work done, she approached the pattern without disturbing it, placing the extra sheets with information omitted from the original pattern as close to their original location as she dares, carefully watching for a reaction from the monks.

Basically trying to fill in blanks. Not correcting mistakes, just filling in some parts they lack in their entirety. I figure she may even have some references prepared, as Phai is keeping an extensive journal...and with the Opus Aeterna our goal, it's likely she more or less copied most information we found.

Vincent stopped his direct approach and shrugged. Perhaps Phai's approach would work?

You also have the pages you picked up earlier. o wo Did you want to show those, or just the handwritten copies?

I am not hiding where I make the copy from, but the ones I place on the ground are just the copies. The originals remain in our possession and are handled carefully. Unless Isen or Vincent have objections or a different suggestion.

That sounds fine to me. It might serve as a good way to get them to open up, or to direct us to where we can read more?

Filler post, it seems Isen has no objections, and 2 out of 3 said go ahead.

Sorry, been distracted by a bug. Sounds good.

The monk was not completely ignorant of the world around him - and he visibly stirred as he noticed the new papers, faltering in his chanting as he took a closer look. The monks further away slowly quieted themselves as they realized something noteworthy was happening, and a few moments later, a weather-worn woman strode out of a small stone building nearby.

"Back to your chants!" she called out, and the voices rose again as she moved forward. "Who are you and why are you disturbing their meditations?" she added as she walked up.

"Apologies for disturbing your acolytes," Isen murmured as the woman approached. "We were uncertain how to approach anyone, and wish to exchange knowledge on how this," he gestured to the drawings, "Work. When my colleague began drawing images of how we've seen these done before the differences attracted some attention. Until then they were really very diligent about not talking to us."

"Aye, you could say we are scholars of a sort ourselves. The Baron of Trebelbet directed us here, implying there could be a fruitful exchange of knowledge on topics of mutual interest.", Phai bowed to the woman, before resuming introductions: "I am Phai, archivist and chronicler of things alive and dead that are natural. This here is Vincent, creator and shaper of things artificial or fused to life, and that one is Isen, a worker of the mystic and physical arts. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, though I will add that we're hoping that with your help be able to get some understanding of how these strange gates work. Also, do you know anything about the ancient civilizations of this land? While working for the Baron, we found evidence of some ancient ruins underground, along with strange magic that seems to be malfunctioning and harming the baron's people. We hope to find some way to repair the damage," Vincent added.

"Where did you see these symbols?" the monk(?) asked, peering intently at them. "This wouldn't be lying around just anywhere..."

"I'm afraid they're from quite some distance. We journyed through the gate to get here, so right now there isn't much chance of visiting them." Isen smiled slightly. "We're hoping to change that."

"Phai and I have been through at least two, though it could be more. The events leading up to our first gate jump are a bit hazy. I'm hoping that if we can figure out how to repair the damaged gate, we can work on mapping the network, and some day I'll be able to contact my people to share what I've learned."

"Aye, pretty certain it's more than two. More probably four or five, though I lack the memory for that.", Phai adds, looking at the woman again: "But yes, we do intend to repair the gates leading off-world - and the Opus Aeterna is a key element, as far as we can tell. Shall we sit down somewhere less exposed and talk some more? I think we may be distracting your chanters meditations again."

The leading monk(?) glanced at the chanting men for a moment, then nodded curtly before beckoning you towards the path.

As the path moves beyond the strange monastic community, it makes a final turn, passing near a sheltered structure composed of a horseshoe-shaped wall of mud 10 feet high. A dirty blanket hangs from two pegs, shading the interior from the harsh sun. "What is your home like? The land beyond the gates?" she asked as she sat down on a simple stone seat and gesturing for you to make yourselves comfortable.

"My home is quite a bit different from this place, though it may have once been similar. There was a catastrophe, a long time ago, which shattered our world. Before her ascension, my god was a living mortal, who saved my people from extinction by fusing our living bodies with mechanical parts. Now, my people inhabit the fragments of our world, many are quite large, with cities both on the surface and dug within, but others are much smaller. Depending on the size of the fragment, there is more or less gravity, and on the smaller ones you can even leap from one to another, though it tends to be quite dangerous if you don't use the proper equipment. A missed jump might mean careening past your intended target and drift for a long time, only to become captured in the pull of one of the larger pieces and land with incredible speed.

"I left home a long time ago now though, traveling with the hopes of finding a way to improve myself in a way that I can share with my people. As part of that effort, I've met people along the way and helped them when I was able. I only met Phai because we had both been captured together, and later we met Isen, by accident."

"Home is a difficult word for me," Isen mused for a moment, lowering himself and settling in at ease. "My planet used magic in more traditional ways, with little knowledge of the means to travel beyond our own world. It is a place of trees and forests, with great plains and frozen tundras - or at least the parts I saw before I left were. If not for a Jagladine testing facility I would never have journeyed off world. It was hidden, and the only place to travel off world - with the exception of the highest magics, of course."

"I should clarify that none of us call the land beyond the gate through which we travelled here home. It was another stop on our journey. In my case, in an attempt to get back home."
Phai closes her eyes, visualizing her home:"My own world is...very much the opposite of this. Most of it is covered in forests. Including the deep woods - Forests with trees several hundred meters in height, with no light reaching the bottom - much in place of what others planets have as oceans - and just as unexplored. There's plenty of water, but much of it bound in biomass, and while rivers flow normally, the geology of my world only supports lakes in certain areas, with the water sifting through earth mostly held in place by countless roots, into gigantic, deep caverns underground in most places. If plants or animals die, they add more biomass on the surface level - biomass they extracted from undergrouund - scientists theorize the ground level has been rising for aeons that way, leading to the aforementioned caverns. There are mountains cutting upwards through the forests, steep, large, and a primary source of fresh water - leading to most settlements being at the edge between forests and mountains. Several of those mountains also hold ruins far predating our own civilization. I was travelling and studying them, including a gate off-world. Entering it is one of the last memories before I woke with Vincent."