"Vetch! Get your... nevermind, just hold still a second!"
Dash grabs a spellgem and gives Vetch's grenade some supercharged oomph.
Extra damage!
School evocation
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range touch
Targets one weapon
Duration see text
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You supercharge the target weapon. If the weapon’s next attack hits (provided it is made before the end of the next round), the attack deals 4d6 additional damage if the weapon is a single target attack or 2d6 additional damage if the weapon attacks all creatures in an area. This bonus damage is of the same type as the weapon’s normal damage.
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Zane: shouldn't you do be doing more damage with that weapon? Doesn't your soldier's weapon specialization kick in with it?
Abe kicks one of the grenades just out of the way as he takes minimal injury from the pair. He fires back at another cultist. The red lashunta collapses to the ground as the laser pierced a vital organ.
Grabbing ahold of Vetch's grenade Dash pours power into it as it hums and rattles about in the Ysoki's paws. Vetch tosses it into the room
The burst is almost more than the lashunta can handle as his legs convulse and he drops to his knees on the bench.
Messalina puts another fragmentary round into the snipers chest cavity as The Zane hacks off the snipers hand with a well aim's slash from his sword. The hand and dueling sword clatter down the outside of the statue. Salask grows feint, grabs at her stump and slips, falling the 150 feet. A soft plop is heard at the bottom as she struck face first leaving a small puddle of green blood where she broke her face and neck.
Fighting to the death the Devourer Cultist with his scattergun and fires it nearly point blank at Dash.
Abe (SP 0/28; HP 28/28; Off target condition)(Messalina 40/40)
Dash (SP 0/25; HP 19/26; Off target condition)
Zane (SP 9/36; HP 32/32; DR/4- vs Kinetic; Off target condition)
Vetch (SP 10/24; HP 26/26)
---------------------------------------------
Devourer Cultists (Green -15)
---------------------------------------------
Round: 14
Resolve: 5/5 Stamina: 3/28 HP: 28/28
Weapon Equipped = Laser Rifle
Conditions = Off-Target (-2 attack)
Psychokinetic Hand = 3/3
Repair Drone = 1/1 (25%/10hp)
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +2 Damage: +2/+4
Melee/Thrown: Attack: BAB +3, Str +0 Damage: +2/+4
Messalina 150’ up
EAC: 17 KAC: 17 CM: 25 HP: 40/40
Weapon Equipped = Semi-automatic pistol & Static arc pistol
Conditions = None
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +3 Damage: +2/+4 Rounds: 3/9
Abe, in no mood to be generous, continues firing.
(cover, off-target)
Messalina begins to fly back (double move).
Dash reloads is rifle and takes aim.
Round 14, Init 21
"Nice shot, SpaceClank."
Vetch scuttles forward to shoot at the badguy (though I think Dash probably ended it).
Ranged: to hit; (cover)
damage
S: 8/24 (11 nl) HP: 26/26 R: 4/4
EAC: 15 KAC: 16 CMD: 24
Fort: +1 Ref: +4 Will: +7
Right Hand: Club
Left Hand: Pistol
Mouth: Serum of Healing II, Grenade, Serum Healing I, Shock Grenade I
Spells cast: 1:4/5 used
2: 0/3 used
Melee: [ dice=Club]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=(B)]1d6-1[/dice] damage
Ranged: [ dice]1d20+6-4[/dice] to hit; (cover)
[ dice=(F)]1d4+1[/dice] damage
[ dice]3d4+3[/dice] damage.
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All three focus fire on the lone gunman and drop him in a hail of fire.
Quick recap on the rooms.
Corroded pipes hang down from the ceiling above a broad basin in the center of this room. The stone walls are slick with moisture and bear carvings of tattooed elves in states of undress as they wash themselves. The domed ceiling depicts hundreds of stars connected to form scores of constellations.
The walls in this long gallery depict elves using needles to tattoo one another with constellations, geometric designs, and strange runic patterns. Rows of tall stone benches line either side of the hall. Carved along the ceiling are twelve stylized elven figures, heavily tattooed, adorned in different ways, and marked with starbursts on their foreheads.
This domed room has numerous open skylights and windows, creating a steady flow of outside air. A ring of slime mold forms a misshapen circular pattern on the floor.
The floor bears a weathered yet perfectly symmetrical circle of 12 carved stars. Unfortunately, the carvings also collect water and bits of organic matter, promoting the ring of mold. By taking a few minutes to clean the floor, you uncover the original pattern as well as the surrounding designs—many of which resemble words and letters from the strange writing found on the Drift Rock!
An elegant wall tapestry threaded with opal beads once hung in this room. It decayed long ago, scattering its beads across the floor. Each bead is worth 80 credits, and a you can find eight of them without much difficulty.
***
Abe (SP 0/28; HP 28/28; Off target condition)(Messalina 40/40)
Dash (SP 0/25; HP 19/26; Off target condition)
Zane (SP 9/36; HP 32/32; DR/4- vs Kinetic; Off target condition)
Vetch (SP 10/24; HP 26/26)
Resolve: 4/5 Stamina: 28/28 HP: 28/28
Weapon Equipped = None
Conditions = None
Psychokinetic Hand = 3/3
Repair Drone = 1/1 (25%/10hp)
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +2 Damage: +2/+4
Melee/Thrown: Attack: BAB +3, Str +0 Damage: +2/+4
Messalina 150’ up
EAC: 17 KAC: 17 CM: 25 HP: 40/40
Weapon Equipped = Semi-automatic pistol & Static arc pistol
Conditions = None
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +3 Damage: +2/+4 Rounds: 9/9
vs DC 19
Abe reloads his weapon with a fresh battery, and reloads Messalina's guns as well. Though he looks around a bit, his focus is on his injuries, and so he finds little.
"Let's get our guide in here and take a rest shall we?" He'll head back outside and toward the guide's body. With help, he'll carry the guide back to the statue and inside the body.
There, he hopes to rest and regain his stamina with the expenditure of some resolve...
Once things settle down, Vetch immediately joins Abe in helping the interpreter. He will do what he can to help the interpreter, now that he has time.
"Did you guys see that big blue gasbag that tried to carry us away!? What was that thing?" Vetch kvetches when things are settled. "What bad luck that the blue bag was here just when we found the sniper...oh wait...is *the* Zane okay?"
Perception
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The Zane gives a quick taunt at the feint and falling green blood.
The Zane warned you, no guarenteed to you, that your pitiful form would be taking a Plunge down the dark abyss.
With that, he races down the stairs to go tell him companions that all is safe now. They took care of everything.
Everyone, you can come out from cover between the woman's legs. The sniper has been dealt with!
*******
The Zane goes outside and gathers the guide's body and brings it inside. He tries to handle it alone so that the others can spend quality time watching the Messelina replays of The Zane climbing the statue and The Zane (and Messelina) fighting the sniper.
ABE, how do you get Messelina to replay some of these scenes? Can you have her transmit them to the authorities?
Messelina did a great job blasting between the sword strokes. Rewind to 5:12 and show M's gun blast again!
Of course, when the vid is on, Zane only really focuses on his own quality moves. He rests and watches. Asking Abe to "turn up the volume" like 4 different times.
Guys, What is the Drift Rock? Zane overheard you talking about it... because ABE won't pump up the volume... and it sounded like you know some more stuff about these writings.
The Zane is really good with rocks. Like really good. It's a hobby of his.
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ABE, how do you get Messelina to replay some of these scenes? Can you have her transmit them to the authorities?
Messelina did a great job blasting between the sword strokes. Rewind to 5:12 and show M's gun blast again!
"Oh, huh? She wasn't recording. I was a little busy..." Abe says lamely, "Did you make some sweet moves up there? Messalina has a very small hard drive, so she can only record about an hour of stuff at a time, so I keep the recording off most of the time. Sorry."
"The drift rock was a bit of flotsam we were hired to investigate before this. Had a bunch of really nasty space-creatures on it as well as some ancient technology - powerful stuff. We're trying to figure out what it is exactly, though we think it's some sort of powerful weapon."
"That's why we're here really. The scientist we're trying to save might have some clues for us. Look here." he brings up old, and far less interesting, Messalina video on his screen and shows the Zane the inside of the Drift rock, the control center with all sorts of squiggly runes and the like.
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The Zane is dumbfounded at A.B.E's revelations. It-was-not-recorded.
Whispering, almost to himself but for others to hear But The Zane gave the "record this" signal to Messelina while he was climbing...
*******
The Zane does eventually shake off his doom and gloom. Looks at the pictures and sees right through the runes, looking at the actual geological rock.
Zane actually does notice something interesting about Drift Rock. Probably something the group already learned, but he shares it anyway.
He at least does it to prove that he is great with rocks. Knows all about them.
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Dash was in a foul mood until Abe reveals Messalina’s failure to roll video. He does his best to stifle a laugh. He best isn’t nearly enough, so he takes a seat on the ground, then lies down to recover, chuckling the whole time.
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The group takes a couple minutes to rest as The Zane hefts the small Ysoki's body over his shoulder and brings him into the statue, where Vetch draws on the power of the cosmos and heals the frail scientist. He jerks awake. "gaahhh!" And shields his face from some unseen harm. Peeking out he sees he is face to face with Vetch. "What happened?" he looks around. "Where are we?"
The few moments gives you plenty of time to lay out the cultists equipment as well.
- Lashunta Ringwear I (2)
- Defiant Longsword (2)
- Shock Grenade I
- Utility Scattergun (2) w/ 25 shells
- Field Rations (4 weeks)
- Credsticks (300 credits)
- Kasatha Microcord I
- Tactical Dueling Sword
- Tactical Shirren-Eye Rifle w/ 45 longarm rounds
- MK I Serum of Healing (2)
- Personal Comm Unit
- Field Rations (3 weeks)
- Credstick (1000 credits)
Turning on the comm unit it appears to be password protected.
Abe (SP 28/28; HP 28/28; Off target condition)(Messalina 40/40)
Dash (SP 25/25; HP 19/26; Off target condition)
Zane (SP 36/36; HP 32/32; DR/4- vs Kinetic; Off target condition)
Vetch (SP 24/24; HP 26/26)
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Studying the video The Zane realizes there is little to be known of the Drift Rock. From the readings collected by Abe's camera drone he comes to a similar conclusion. This was no ordinary rock. It had a wealth of technology within. Very ancient technology but lightyears beyond what the pact worlds currently maintain.
The systems and the control room itself are incredibly ancient—possibly even millions of years old. In fact, it appears that the Drift Rock is not just an asteroid that was repurposed as a control center, but that it was a part of the larger structure that was designed and artificially constructed at the same time as the machinery and controls here. And if all that is true, then the Drift Rock represents a find of major significance, for not only is it a piece of heretofore-unknown technology of exceedingly advanced age, but the larger structure it was once a part of may still be somewhere among the stars, just waiting to be discovered!
The Zane hands back the VidPad showing DriftRock. With the utmost confidence he says, You are all so lucky that you found The Zane. Because he's going to find this Ultimate structure and be given the Championship Cup as Best Starfinder Ever! [b]
He Exhales with a big WOOHOOOO.
[b] That's got to be the biggest trophy in the Galaxy.
*******
While the inventory is being counted, he goes to the inner statue walls and talks to it. Putting his hand on it's smooth inner marbled wall.
The Zane is going to be going soon. He dominated you. Climbing on top of you with ease and total control. Don't ever forget it. The Zane will be back soon, to claim his Warren. You better unlock your secrets then.
********
Feeling Good! Ready to roll when you give the go ahead Coach.
He says, looking at Dash for a signal on what direction to go next.
Abe eyes the comm unit suspiciously. "Might be we get some useful intelligence from this thing. Let's see if we can crack it..."
He tries to hack the system.
He knows his second attempt is pitiful and would have likely resulted in countermeasures if there were any. So he'll take his time after that, methodically running every angle.
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Abe is able to hack into the PCU on his first go. The password seemed to have been 12345
There are several logged communications with another unit (Eyrub Paqual / Tahomen’s). These convey updates about her movements through the jungle and ways in which she has harassed the Starfinders. She also has an extensive number of recorded broadcasts of Eoxian “reality” programming and blood sport, favoring productions by the elebrian celebrity Zo!, including an entire season of the viscerally grotesque Survival Deathmatch Extreme!
Though your reprieve is short as the sound claws click softly across the pavement outside and Dash hears the familiar coo of the Ksarik. Though what is more disconcerting is that it seems to be followed up by the sounds of a second call. Curious and hungry, they scout the plaza’s perimeter before approaching the Stargazer. The young Ksarik had Dash's scent and must have followed.
But The Zane gave the "record this" signal to Messelina while he was climbing...
Vetch looks at the gear, hoping to find a replacement mouth grenade and takes the shock grenade 1 unless someone stops him.
"Yeah, that Drift Rock...we almost didn't get out alive. There was this crazy wraith thing...completely annoying, that was even more annoying than that blue puff ball."
After Abe hacks the computer...Vetch has questions.
"This jackgoblin sure was thorough about tracking her actions to stop our movements...what is that!?" Vetch draws his pistol when the Ksarik appears.
"Hey SpaceClank! Your one and only fan club member is here! Uh..." Vetch scampers for cover.
Abe is initially pleased at his prowess with the device, until the password is made known. He simply shrugs and smiles as he sees what's there. "Been following us a while. I wonder if there are others out there waiting to step up? Too bad we don't have some mimicry - we could fake reports and keep the enemy guessing."
"Ah well" he sighs, "It'll have to be enough that they no longer have their spy. Look, I don't think we can carry all this. Maybe we should bury some of it nearby and pick it up on the way out?" he wonders just how much Zane can carry on his broad frame.
When the Ksarik appears, he reaches for his gun, but does not immediately draw it, waiting on Dash to sort it out.
Abe is able to hack into the PCU on his first go. The password seemed to have been 12345
Dash is pretty sure that’s the same password The Zane has on his luggage, but he doesn’t comment aloud.
When he hears the familiar coo outside, Dash grabs his rifle and summons a string of foul curses. ”Let’s kill ‘em.”
Being given a solid command of "Let's Kill 'Em" -The Zane moves into action.
He sets up the sniper rifle and takes a shot from the gun at the Ksariks.
He is hoping to catch them while they are closer to the statue, so he has a couple rounds to take pot shots.
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Zane's shot rings out, striking the red tinted ksarik in the side and it leaps behind the pillar for cover.
Dash (SP 25/25; HP 19/26)
Zane (SP 36/36; HP 32/32; DR/4- vs Kinetic)
Abe (SP 28/28; HP 28/28)(Messalina 40/40)
Vetch (SP 24/24; HP 26/26)
------------------------------------
Ksarik (Red -5)
------------------------------------
Round: 1
Resolve: 4/5 Stamina: 28/28 HP: 28/28
Weapon Equipped = laser rifle
Conditions = None
Psychokinetic Hand = 3/3
Repair Drone = 1/1 (25%/10hp)
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +2 Damage: +2/+4
Melee/Thrown: Attack: BAB +3, Str +0 Damage: +2/+4
Messalina 100’ up
EAC: 17 KAC: 17 CM: 25 HP: 40/40
Weapon Equipped = Semi-automatic pistol & Static arc pistol
Conditions = None
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +3 Damage: +2/+4 Rounds: 9/9
Assuming Abe was with the others when the shots began, he too takes a shot at the wounded one.
(cover)
Meanwhile, Messalina takes to the air and flies toward the creatures to close the distance. She flies out of the head, and mostly down the body toward the targets (still 100' up).
If Abe is not in the head already, he single moves toward it instead of shooting.
Round 1
Vetch double scampers up toward the head, wondering how he is always out of position.
The Zane, lets out a loud , COOOOO, CCOOOOO
Then talking to the two Ksarik's with a casualness, as if they were in the same room.
How you like THAT for a change of roles? Not long ago there was this android. He happened upon a nice, fuzzy, and seemingly friendly creature. It had a cute little "coooing" sound that it would make. It would even shake it's little rump.
With that, The Zane loads the sniper rifle with a gleaming bullet and shakes his butt like a happy dog would.
It even "Cooo'd again at the Android.
The Zane then bellows out the eye hole ---
He shoulders the rifle and puts his eye in the eyesight. Returning to his normal voice, he continues: Until all I heard from the android was, URRRK, as a spindly needle is protruding from his chest.
The Zane pulls the trigger in a soft, smooth motion.
Time to go UURRK!
Grabbing his own rifle, Dash starts making his way to the statue's hand.
"F#%@ m$%#%ing c@#%#*&ucker..."
It's not clear if he's talking about The Zane or the ksariks.
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@Zane- So sniper weapons can be fire as normal at their normal range increment. I.E the Shirren Tactical is 70 feet. You can snipe further with it, out to 250 but need to use your move action to aim and standard to fire. So the next round you would need to spend a move action to reload. But only if firing further than 70 feet.[/ooc]
Dash grabs his own rifle and makes way for the statue's hand just as Zane and Abe take advantage of vantage points within the head and send warning shots at the pair.
Vetch scampers off towards the head as Messalina flies high overhead.
Unsure where the shots are coming from and clearly not easy prey the pair of Ksariks turn and make for the sanctity of the dense jungle.
Dash (SP 25/25; HP 19/26)
Zane (SP 36/36; HP 32/32; DR/4- vs Kinetic)
Abe (SP 28/28; HP 28/28)(Messalina 40/40)
Vetch (SP 24/24; HP 26/26)
"Well that was effective." Abe straightens up from his firing position and summons Messalina from the hunt. He has her land in the hand and keep an eye out for trouble while the party discusses their next plans within.
"I think we should bury some of this gear - there's a lot of bulk here and I don't want to leave the food behind. What do you guys think?" If we lose it all, we'd lose about 650cr worth of misc weapons and armor. I've noted 'cache' next to the stuff on the treasure sheet.
"Once secured, do we want to head on - or spend the night here? I'd love an opportunity to really study this place, but we do have other priorities."
The Zane looks pretty satisfied with himself. But, nothing else is new.
He puts the sniper rifle in the cache of items that A.B.E is working on.
Where to now Coach Dash?
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Vetch stops short as he hears that the foes have run off.
"Uh...those things are going to be a problem, aren't they? They are sort of like goblins: you can't feed them or treat them well lest they follow you and start acting like we shouldn't be wiping them all out," Vetch says, wriggling his non-existant toes in anger.
"Well, are we resting here? Seems to be pretty defensible for the most part," Vetch agrees with Abe. [b]"And I don't care much about the gear we can't use. Though we should probably trap the stash so that when someone finds it, they don't think they are getting free stuff."{/b]
Vetch will set up camp then begin a slow search of the entire statue to see what's what around here.
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At the entrance with the pool Vetch finds several constellations etched into the stonework. The constellations on the ceiling include both ones commonly taught on Castrovel as well as numerous esoteric designs.
The Zane doesn't really find much interest in exploring or looking at scientific stuff. He sets down for rest. Keeping watch. Making the occasional comment to the rest of the Starfinders, but sometimes to the status itself, about how he dominated it and they should change it's name from Plague Warren to Zane's Warren, or even Zane's B#+@~.
He is on watch, but with Bubba out and ready to fire at the base of the stairs.
”And don’t come back... f@$#%ers.”
***
”We rest here.” Dash confirms to Vetch as he rejoins the crew inside. He is about to assign watch to Zane, but notices the baller already doing his job.
Scoping out the statue with Vetch, he fails to notice anything significant. Giving up soon, he finds a place to bed down and get some rest.
(DC -5 with Astronomy)
Abe spends the next few hours studying the walls and ceilings, fascinated. He shares that many of the constellations are known to modern scholars but only thanks to advanced telescopes and faster-than-light travel. That the Oatia elves had identified these suggests they had extraordinary astronomical equipment, supernatural techniques for surveying the sky, or some other means of seeing far beyond the Pact Worlds system.
"Impressive peoples for their time. Very impressive." he mutters as he spends his hours joyously.
At some point he calls Zane over, "Come, let'd go dig a hole for this gear." He finds a suitable spot in the nearby area - easily remembered - and caches a number of their weapons and armor for the return trip.
That night he rests easily, when not on watch of course, and rises early the next day, ready to be on their way.
Vetch shares what he finds in his pre-rest search, carefully scuttling into every crevasse and nook.
"Not a whole lot here. You'd figure whomever built this might have might not have cared if anyone ever knew about them," Vetch chitters.
"...impressive..."
Vetch does a double take.
"What? There is stuff here about them? Huh...I never knew..." Vetch admires Abe's brainy technoknowledge. "Elves, man. Who knew?"
Vetch will rest for the night, sleeping under a bunk or table when it's not his turn at watch.
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Zane finds amusement that Vetch has a hatred towards Goblins.
He smiles. Goblins aren't too bad. They are used in multiple contests that he has played, probably because they can be so expendible/replacable. He's probably even called a couple by name before.
But, Vetch and his barbed remarks certainly make his hatred either real, or maybe it's like those awkward boys that pick on girls and tease girls that they secretly like.... so everyone else doesn't realize the truth.
He lets out a huge and unsolicited laugh as he puts the last of the Lashunta armor in the cache hole.
That's because The Zane mentally pictured Vetch getting caught kissing some female goblin in a spaceship's cargo hold. The part that really makes him laugh is picturing the startled and "caught" Vetch opening his mouth to say something defensive, like he was subduing a rogue goblin, and one of his mouth grenades falling out his mouthsack and onto the ground.
It's so funny to Zane, that he laughs again. Just not as loud.
HaHaHaHa.
Turning to ABE, he says, So I noticed Vetch doesn't like Goblins. Any backstory?
*******
The Zane is ready in the morning and starts tracking the main group that has their quarry.
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The last few days to the Temple of the Twelve go surprisingly and completely uneventful. Vetch gets turned around a couple of times as an extra day onto the journey.
The closer you get to the Temple of the Twelve, the more noticeably steep the trek becomes. By the time they are within a half day’s travel from the site, the jungle thins out slightly and the ground rises, giving way to a stretch of verdant, rolling foothills crisscrossed by meandering creeks with sources in the striking peaks of the Singing Range to the north and west.
You soon reach the ruins of what Halkueem Zan called the “Forsaken City.” After the elves abandoned the site long ago, their homes crumbled, windblown soil accumulated, and plants took root, creating a graveyard of pyramids studding the landscape that rise between 2 and 25 feet in height. With hundreds of structures, Loskialua represents a rare archaeological treasure that would require years of dedicated fieldwork to excavate and document. Of greater interest to the PCs, though, is the intact temple and observatory—the Temple of the Twelve—perched hundreds of feet up the side of Alhuenar Spire, one of the Singing Range’s highest mountains.
Standing imperiously on a promontory partway up the mountainside is a temple of elegantly sculpted stone with a single domed tower rising from its center. Expanses of the structure’s weathered exterior bear scores of tall, glass-paned windows that cause the facade to shimmer in the sunlight. Wide stairs are carved into the rock face, winding back and forth as they ascend to the temple from the ruins below.
When the Temple of the Twelve began receiving more pilgrims and required greater upkeep, the elves carved a staircase into the steep slope leading up to the site. They called this the Path of Enlightenment, placing small monuments at each landing carved with cosmic wisdom that have since eroded beyond legibility. The climb is steep.
The Devourer cultists failed to notice one trap, which launched a volley of magical darts, leaving one of them on death's door. The dying lashunta attracted the attention of a young mountain eel, an immense bug-eyed predator that has only recently had to fend for itself. The cultist represented a caloric windfall, and as you approach, the mountain eel is pinning the corpse as it tears off gobbets of flesh to consume.
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Abe walks through the ancient city in some degree of awe. "Man, this place is old! I've never seen anything so old. I wonder if the observatory will be as cool as the stars in that last building?"
Later, with the eel, he gathers his laser rifle and sends Messalina off to the side - ready to shoot. He does not fire however, and instead suggests, "Maybe it's just hungry. I say we wait a bit and see if it leaves after feeding. No need to kill everything we find is there?"
”Ok, I’m impressed.” Dash remarks upon looking up at the observatory. ”Proves that elves aren’t just a$$holes.”
***
When the crew encounters the eel on the stairs, Dash agrees with Abe. ”Let’s take a snack break ourselves and hope that when it’s done it moves on.”
During the break Dash uses the scope on his rifle to scan the observatory above and the tree line below, keeping watch for trouble.
The Zane takes the command, but doesn't eat too much. He takes out his sword and prepares a couple different "War Faces" in case the Eel so much as makes a snarl in their direction. He doesn't go into full military Seargent mode, unless the Eel makes that move, but he does his practice stance and face snarls.
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Vetch watches Zane’s facial gestures with a bemused look. Ysoki do not have as much range in their facial muscles...so they have learned to use subtle gestures over time to show emotion. That Zane is so profound in his ability to practice so many different normal poop, soft poop, and hard poop faces on the fly impresses the un-toed ysoki.
”You are getting ready for a mighty poop, are you, Zane?”
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The group waits patiently as the eel finishes it's "meal". Full and content it climbs back down the mountain paying little mind to the Starfinders.
The path up the long set of stairs leads to the entrance. A series of weathered pillars arcs around the entrance of the temple, marking a curving border around a small plaza.
The Oatia elves were versed in using the aiudara that linked nearby worlds, but they were incapable of true spaceflight. Unable to experience the cosmos directly, they built a symbolic barrier to protect their temple from contamination by terrestrial interference, much as their astronomers minimized light pollution to properly view the sky. They called this sacred threshold the Veil.
In addition to their traps, the elves left behind one of their own to guard their legacy and guide those seeking knowledge for its own sake. Standing vigilant is what appears to be an elf, though undead as he appears to have performed a series of self mummification rites over the years to preserve his mind and soul.
As you approach, An elfsteps forward and motions for you to halt outside the Veil.
The interpreter nods his head in complete agreement. turning he begins to leave and quickly realizes the Starfinders aren't going to turn back. He relays the message in hopes taht you will follow. "Seems he is a guard of sorts here and is instructing us to turn and leave this place."
"Now look here, we're on a mission of some importance. We're trying to find a kidnapped woman, among other things. Before we comply, ask him if he's seen anyone like that. I have a picture if it'll help." he pulls up his vid of her from the research facility and tries to show it to the undead.
Not to steal one of Dash's legendary curses, but That Elven mummified guardian looks Badass. Maybe checking around the building for crumbled walls or entrance opportunities?
I see near the stairs we just walked up, the cliff wall turns into the outside wall of the tower. There's even a lower landing 80 feet down.
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"Anyone speak..." ..jerk? Dash finishes the thought as the interpreter does his job.
"Abe, show some pictures of the Drift Rock too. Maybe the symbols we saw inside will get his attention."
To the mummelf, Dash tries a few other languages to see if it is able to converse by other means.
Castrovelian, "Come lashunta?"
Dracnic, "Slass drak?"
Triaxian, "Du undre triaxus?"
Azlanti, "Dost thou speaketh azlant?"
Vetch smiles, hoping that Dash's circuitry is hardwired to a useful common language so that the might communicate.
"We might leave," Vetch asks the translator to translate. "But we must know if you have allowed others to pass this way."
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The Interpreter speeds through his sentences as he tries to keep up with the flurry of questions. Pointing towards Abe's vid of the kidnapped Doctor Solstarni he repeats back all he can.
Barel looking at the screen the elf replies, though does not respond in any language that Dash repeatedly tries.
The Ysoki looks over to Abe. "Umm... he says that Centuries ago a child visited him, looking for secrets. He showed the child violence." The Ysoki frowns. "Though recently a band of Lashunta's came and the leader made him relent so they could enter..." The Elf speaks some more.
The Ysoki digests the information and interprets it as best as he can. "It is an old language but I believe he is saying that they are inside. Though it sounds like some ascended the mountain with a portable shrine?"
(The “child of Golarion” Panelliar is referring to is the explorer Halkueem Zan, whom he remembers as a shameless charlatan and fool. The leader of the recent arrivals whom the elf encountered is the cult leader Tahomen.)
"Right. Tell him, we mean him no disrespect, but the people he let past are most evil, and have kidnapped a woman. We're going to go and rescue her, and we'd rather do it with his blessing, but if he insists, we will do battle to assure our passage within."
"Oh, and these symbols are somehow connected I guess." Though he doesn't see the point, he shows the images of the drift rock interior as well in case it triggers some sort of interest in the undead.
Can you ask Pamelliar, how the leader made him relent?