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Vetch seems encouraged that *The* Zane doesn’t want either armor enhance and wonders if Draka and Abe and Dash will be as accomodating.
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"Ship magician! Are you okay? You don't have scales like Draka." The vesk stares at Abe's wound but doesn't offer to try and heal him. "You want Draka to smash dresser into tiny bits? ...For revenge," Draka clarifies.
Abe chuckles at Draka, "No, thanks, the dresser didn't do this, the cultists did. Or maybe the undead, in some weird way. Either way, the dresser is innocent as far as I can tell." he grins and coughs a gob of blood on the floor. "I'll be fine in a moment, just need to catch my breath."
Satisfied the dresser is taken care of (whether smashed or no) Abe joins the others in investigating the last section of the compound. Rifle at the ready, Messalina backing him up, he feels good about their chances.
Dash winces as Abe takes lasers to the face. Seeing that he survived the trap, he points out the upside.
”Well, cooked Abe smells much better than rotting cult food.” He sniffs. ”Reminds me of bacon and eggs in here now.”
Changing the subject before another wave of nausea crashes in. ”We’ve got another shield unit somewhere, but up until now we haven’t had armor with enough upgrade slots to handle it, particularly as you pointed out, the shield is f@#%ing weak. However, they can be useful against incorporeal undead, so I’d suggest slotting them if you have the extra port.”
Considering the death match between Draka and the Dresser, Dash says, ”I think you should wreck it. Here, I’ll record.”
Zane does his best to be "in the background"yet be in the foreground of the dresser smashing video.
Once completed, and his part in Viral Web video lore is established, Zane set himself up at the doorway and enters the final room. Ready for anything. Looking for a space shuttle hanger bay or something similar.
Vetch plugs in both the Brown force field and the Mk I electrostatic field armor enhancement into his new ysoki refractor suit. He takes a few moments to ensure the power leads are clear and each is working somewhat correctly before turning each on individually, then both together. He needs to remove the force field for a moment, but then puts it back in after blowing on the connectors.
"This stuff might be junk but it's better than the junk I've ever had. Wish I had this charg-o-shield when them goblins got me. They woulda thought twice about biting with the jolts they would have received."
While he fiddle-faddles with his armor, he attempts to align it better to fit his toeless body.
Engineering vs. DC 15
He will test his movement after that, and skitter and scuttle from place to place to remind himself how to stay quiet in the new armor.
When Draka is finished splintering the dresser, Vetch will be ready to push on.
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While the dresser is utterly demolished Vetch works on designing the armor for a better fit, first making a small hole for his tail. Or if he swiveled it around, making it easier to piss. Then aligning it with his toeless feet.
With the armor aligned and the wooden dresser that some carpenter or 3d printer spent some time on left in shambles the group heads northwestward. You find the Datacore!
Looming over the west side of this sterile room are floor-to-ceiling computer consoles that swallow the entire wall with dizzying displays of darkened screens, inset buttons, levers, and switches. A squat, bony, reptilian creature is slumped over in a congealed puddle of blood in front of the consoles.
Heavy breathing comes from the far side of the chamber as a second bony reptilian creature snorts, turning to Zane. Thick smoke trails out from it's void-like eyes.
Vetch (SP 28/35; HP 24/32; RP 4/6; Elec Res 5)
Dash (SP 26/36; HP 30/30; RP 6/6)
Zane (SP 38/50; HP 39/39; RP 5/6; DR/5-Cold/Fire/Kinetic)
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Reptile
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Abe (SP 35/35; HP 31/34; RP 3/6) (Messalina -2; 15 feet up.)
Draka (SP 47/50; HP 41/41; RP 7/7)
Mysticism -
Vetch notes the creature with the smoky eyes and recognizes it immediately. "That's a gapborn veolisk. They are profane goblinf~@&ers, for sure. It's not likely to be friendly to us."
Vetch delays for the brute squad to act, but will explain whatever else he remembers about the veolisk.
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Vetch quickly recognizes teh reptile and fills everyone in on it's void gaze. While the Veolisk doesn't have any natural resistance to any of the weapons it's look alone can cause mass confusion.
These hulking beasts can survive on very little food, usually eating only one small meal—flesh, fruits, fungus, plant life, or anything it can find—a day. Scientists don’t agree on exactly what maintains a veolisk’s physiology; some believe the creatures simply have a hyperefficient metabolism, while others suggest that they feed on cosmic radiation like trees gathering sustenance through photosynthesis. A few experts theorize that veolisks don’t need to eat at all to survive and subsist solely on the background arcane energies that are present everywhere in the galaxy. Reputable xenobiologists tend to scoff at this hypothesis, but their opponents are quick to point out that universe is full of strange and unknowable wonders that defy scientific explanation.
Veolisks lay fist-sized leathery eggs, usually six to eight at a time. These eggs are recognizable as belonging to a veolisk due to their ebony coloring and their tendency to give off faint wisps of odorless smoke. Once laid, the eggs don’t require any kind of incubation and usually hatch on their own after a few weeks. In most broods, the first veolisks to hatch tend to devour the unhatched eggs as their first meals. Veolisk young begin to hunt for themselves after this initial meal and are fully mature in less than a year. Adult veolisks usually mate whenever the opportunity presents itself, though neither parent takes any interest in their eggs or offspring.
A typical veolisk is about 7 feet long from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail and weighs approximately 200 pounds.
Yeah BOY!
Zane is ready and raring to fight. But he also wants to be tactical and not get into the way of those with guns. UNTIL he hears about things he doesn't understand - like void eyes and crazy sight.
That kind of stuff means Zane needs to just get up there and hack away.
Dash moves to the doorway and looks in at the beast.
”Well that’s f@#%ing disturbing.”
Raising his new laser pistol, he pulls off a shot.
Round 1, Init 15-
Vetch moves up and fires at the lizard, hoping to avoid shooting *The* Zane in the back of the head.
Disinitigrator Ranged: to hit;
damage
S: 28/35 HP: 24/32 R: 6/6
EAC: 22 KAC: 22 CMD: 26
Fort: +2 Ref: +6 Will: +8
Right Hand: Club
Left Hand: Pistol
Mouth: Serum of Healing II, Grenade, Serum Healing I, Shock Grenade I
Spells uncast: 1: 4/5 used
2: 0/3 used
Melee: [ dice=Club]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=(B)]1d6-1[/dice] damage
Ranged: [ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit; (cover)
[ dice=(F)]1d4+2[/dice] damage
Disinitigrator Ranged: [ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit; (cover)
[ dice=(F)]1d10+2[/dice] damage
[ dice]3d4+3[/dice] damage.
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The Veolisk growls as Vetch's acid sizzles and snaps through the thin scaly skin. Dash fires a shot from around the corner of the doorway and misses, nearly taking out the computer instead.
The Zane rushes in with his longsword in hand and cleaves deep into the reptile's leg. It hisses in pain, snapping at Zane before rushing away.
As the Veolisk passes Zane he gets a good look into it's eyes before it skitters off.
The beast skitters to a halt, flicking it's tongue and silently hissing through the doorway where everyone gets a good, hard look at it's smoky eyes. Each of you feel a claustrophobic, dark, and often maddening aspect only found in deep space.
Vetch (SP 28/35; HP 24/32; RP 4/6; Elec Res 5)
Dash (SP 26/36; HP 30/30; RP 6/6)
Zane (SP 30/50; HP 39/39; RP 5/6; DR/5-Cold/Fire/Kinetic)
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Reptile (-16)
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Abe (SP 35/35; HP 31/34; RP 3/6) (Messalina -2; 15 feet up.)
Draka (SP 47/50; HP 41/41; RP 7/7)
Round: 1
Resolve: 3/6 Stamina: 35/35 HP: 31/34
Weapon Equipped = Azimuth laser rifle
Conditions = None
Spells (caster level 5)
At Will = Token Spell, Mending
Psychokinetic Hand = 3/3
Comprehend Languages = 1/1
Repair Drone = 1/1 (25%/12hp)
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +4 Damage: +5
Melee/Thrown: Attack: BAB +3, Str +1 Damage: +2
Messalina 10’ up
EAC: 18 KAC: 18 CM: 26 HP: 47/50
Weapon Equipped = Frostbite zero rifle
Conditions = None
Ranged: Attack: BAB +4, Dex +3 Damage: +5
vs DC 16
vs DC 16
Abe focuses fire on the creature, through cover.
Messalina, a little shaken up, but acting normally for now, moves into the chamber for a better spot, and also takes a shot.
Seeing his quarry move away from him, he quickly uses his sword to try and slice deeper into this reptile.
It appears that he got a solid stroke with his sword in, but then he looks back into the thing's eyes. Maybe he did it to see if the sword connected enough to cause pain, but Zane made a mistake right then and there.
Round 2, Init 15-
Will vs. DC 16
Vetch fires at the lizard again, then moves back to make room for Draka.
Disinitigrator Ranged: to hit;
damage
S: 28/35 HP: 24/32 R: 6/6
EAC: 22 KAC: 22 CMD: 26
Fort: +2 Ref: +6 Will: +8
Right Hand: Club
Left Hand: Pistol
Mouth: Serum of Healing II, Grenade, Serum Healing I, Shock Grenade I
Spells uncast: 1: 4/5 used
2: 0/3 used
Melee: [ dice=Club]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=(B)]1d6-1[/dice] damage
Ranged: [ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit; (cover)
[ dice=(F)]1d4+2[/dice] damage
Disinitigrator Ranged: [ dice]1d20+9[/dice] to hit; (cover)
[ dice=(F)]1d10+2[/dice] damage
[ dice]3d4+3[/dice] damage.
”This thing has crazy f@#%ing eyes!” Dash states the obvious as he fires his laser again and again.
Considering the death match between Draka and the Dresser, Dash says, ”I think you should wreck it. Here, I’ll record.”
Draka unstraps her weapon and begins to smash the cabinet to bits. She's still smashing the bits into smaller bits when the party moves on.
Round 1:
Draka moves towards the enemy and swings. "RAUUUUGH!"
Round 2:
"Draka don't like tiny space. Draka going crazy! Too small!"
*+2 if android bonus vs mind-affecting applies
Like some PTSD flashback, Zane is back at University. The game is on - The crowd is cheering. They are cheering because he's at an away game and the other team just had some good fortune.
no time to think- just quick fire reactions- stop them from advancing the ball!
F$~#! Deiter turned the ball over!
He has one fix all trick in games - use his body to stop the play.
With that, he rushes forward. Something is in his hand and he thinks about how he doesn't want it there. He has to free his hands up.
So the armor takes it away and sheathes it. (or he drops it)
He runs full speed- plowing into the alien that's got the ball!
He doesn't even take in the scope of the alien form and it's many legs and tail - he only focuses on the ball and the fact HE DOESN'T have it.
Stop right THERE!
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Abe and Messalina fight the creature from different angles with fire and frost. Messalina's coolant freezes it's legs to the ground while Abe sears a hole through it's neck. the Veolisk shakes it's head in pain.
Draka stares deep into the smoke filled orbs and claws at her own arms. Rivulets of vesk blood drip from her arm to the floor.
Vetch coats the beast in acid, melting the side of it's ribs, exposing them to the world.
Dash fires from around the wall as his android sensors resist the confusing gaze. Both shots strike true burning it's face.
Just before the Veolisk ran away Zane get's a lucky strike in, cleaving one of the numerous feet clean off, leaving a stub of bone behind. Zane's mind goes back to his days in college during teh Deathball matches. Back in the game he sprints off at full speed and leaps onto the Veolisk's back, grabbing the ball from underneath.
The veolisk easily shakes the large man loose from his strange, but sensual touching. Turning it bites at Zane.
Zane ducks and weaves the other players as they come at him from all sides.
With noone averting their eyes the confusion continues from the veolisk's maddening gaze.
Vetch (SP 28/35; HP 24/32; RP 4/6; Elec Res 5)
Dash (SP 26/36; HP 30/30; RP 6/6)
Zane (SP 18/50; HP 39/39; RP 5/6; DR/5-Cold/Fire/Kinetic)
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Reptile (-80)
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Abe (SP 35/35; HP 31/34; RP 3/6) (Messalina -2; 15 feet up.)
Draka (SP 35/50; HP 41/41; RP 7/7)
Round: 2
Resolve: 3/6 Stamina: 35/35 HP: 31/34
Weapon Equipped = Azimuth laser rifle
Conditions = None
Spells (caster level 5)
At Will = Token Spell, Mending
Psychokinetic Hand = 3/3
Comprehend Languages = 1/1
Repair Drone = 1/1 (25%/12hp)
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +4 Damage: +5
Melee/Thrown: Attack: BAB +3, Str +1 Damage: +2
Messalina 10’ up
EAC: 18 KAC: 18 CM: 26 HP: 47/50
Weapon Equipped = Frostbite zero rifle
Conditions = None
Ranged: Attack: BAB +4, Dex +3 Damage: +5
”Hey, it didn’t go down! Did you see that? It didn’t go down!”
vs DC 16
vs DC 16
Abe moves carefully into the room (doesn't provoke unless it has reach) and takes a level, clear shot.
Messalina, totally confused, takes a shot at Abe now that he moved into the room, or Draka if you rule it locks on target at the moment of confusion, before Abe moves. Either way should be a miss.
”Messalina, no - stop that!” shouts Abe, threatening to cut her power.
Deiter- you bastard - he still has the ball because of you!
The quick shirk off from the VoidLisk throws Zane. With great balance, and "in game" intensity he lands on his feet and dodges the oncoming opponents. But one hit REALLY seemed to hurt- he needs to tell the training staff to add more padding to the protection gear.
Maybe it's because of the pain- but things start to go cloudy and out of focus. Then they snap back into upmost clarity!
In front of him- without weapons - is a 200 lb reptile.
What the heck happened to the game? Did the Abarak's win because of the turn over?
Then clarity of mind and spirit .
Of course they didn't win? No team beat The Zane when he was on the field!
To the task at hand -- He better defend himself.
He pulls out his sword once more and lets the thing have a slice of bleeding fusion Carbon!
Damage for the laser
Vetch cringes as Draka takes a bite out of Draka. "Ow! Draka, are you okay? Did I mention that you needed to avoid that creature's gaze? Yeah, that look will drive you crazy. On the other hand, you have some prime footage to share with the worlds."
Vetch holsters his pistol and moves into the room, still avoiding the gaze of the veolisk. He looks around for things of interest.
Perception
Draka shakes off the confusion for this round. She shakes her massive, reptilian head as if she's clearing cobwebs.
"Ow! Draka, are you okay? Did I mention that you needed to avoid that creature's gaze? Yeah, that look will drive you crazy. On the other hand, you have some prime footage to share with the worlds."
Draka would respond to her companion. She would say something about showing one's own blood adds to the Blood in "Blood and Glory" ...but she's currently seeing red. Figuratively and literally. "RAUUUUGH! Why Draka bite Draka?" Lingering confusion clouds the vesk's deductive reasoning and common sense as she steps forward.
Utterly confused about her current situation (perhaps by her lack of intelligence of being able to assess what just happened) Draka does what feel natural. Instinctual. She hazardously lifts the Swoop Hammer, then sends it swinging like a baseball bat at the creature that's befuddled her mind.
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Vetch looks around. there appears to be nothing physically interesting lying about besides the massive datacore computer taking up the whole wall. Looming over the west side of this sterile room are floor-to ceiling computer consoles that swallow the entire wall with dizzying displays of darkened screens, inset buttons, levers, and switches.
Anyone attempting to hack the computer realizes the system normally requires a voiceprint password, meaning an authorized user must speak a password to gain access.
Vetch (SP 28/35; HP 24/32; RP 4/6; Elec Res 5)
Dash (SP 26/36; HP 30/30; RP 6/6)
Zane (SP 18/50; HP 39/39; RP 5/6; DR/5-Cold/Fire/Kinetic)
Abe (SP 35/35; HP 31/34; RP 3/6) (Messalina -2; 15 feet up.)
Draka (SP 35/50; HP 41/41; RP 7/7)
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Zane feels funky.
He says as he takes stock of what happened and what he thought he saw.
He needs a minute to regather. (not ten - not spending resolve)
******
When he hears about the computers and the voiceprint access, he laughs and says,
Easy Peasy, Draka's not squeezy!
To which he explains:
In the video, a verthani and a gnome are sitting cross-legged on the floor inside one of the base’s living quarters. Both are dressed in robes and wearing unholy symbols of the Devourer, and the verthani is teaching the gnome to sing a paean to the Devourer. Throughout the song, both cultists repeat the phrase “Nyara knows!” over and over.
Either that. or ABE sees if he has audio of that big bad-dy at the temple and splice the Nyra knows mantra in his voice.
Satisfied that he utterly defeated the computer he continues with his mismashed rythms. Easy Peasy- Abe is Computer Geeky.
Easy, Fo-cheesy - Dash is never Pleasy.
Easy-Bi-neesy - Vetch no-goblo..... Better try that one again later.
Abe takes a moment to check Messalina's circuitry for lasting effects before The Zane's rhythms break into his thoughts. 'Oh yes, this will be tough."
He leaves the camera going for now and moves to the computer. He sits down and sees if there's a back way in, or if he'll need to fiddle with the voiceprint password system.
...sadly, unless he got lucky on his opening salvo, the computer seems beyond his capacity. He chews his lip and tries another tack - if the safeguards haven't already kicked in.
More satisfied with his second effort, he leans back in the chair and waits to see if the thing will spin up for him.
Abe pounds the keyboard a while, with each pass he glances at the swirling vortex pulsing away. It frustrates him no end that he cannot bypass it.
Eventually, he sits back in frustration. He stews in his own juices a moment, before chuckling. "Damn cultists." He stands squarely near the vortex and says calmly, "Nyara knows!"
He looks expectantly at the screens.
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The screen flits open to the homepage. Password correct. Three data modules stand out among the rest, labeled respectively:
- Activities
- Intelligence
- Sacred Lore
The Activities Data Module has no additional countermeasures protecting it. It states the mission of this sect of the Cult of the Devourer in no uncertain terms. The denizens of the Star-Eater’s Spine were devoted to poring through the prophecies in a sacred but cryptic tome called The Entropy of Existence and Glorious Rise of the Void. The data contains the cult’s analysis of some of these divinations, including one prophecy flagged as high-priority. This highpriority prophecy is not stored in this data module, but a link points to its location in another secure data module labeled “Sacred Lore”.
The cultists focused on this one prophecy in particular because they thought it the most likely candidate for them to bring to fruition. From the data, it appears the cultists interpreted the prophecy as referring to some sort of weapon—one powerful enough to serve as a “key” to untold destruction—but they have deciphered little else. In addition to the cultists’ obsessive work to understand more of this prophecy’s latent instructions, this module details the terrible, ritualistic tortures (such as the laser wall near the entrance) the cult enacted to try to pull further clues from those lines.
Both the Intelligence and Sacred Lore modules seem to be secured behind additional firewalls and countermeasures.
Abe leaps out of his chair, "Hah!" and points at the screens.
Grinning he sits back down and tackles the keyboard once more, trying to pry his way into the other modules. Leaving no stone unturned...
If that doesn't manage to crack it, he bears down...
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Abe works on the pair of modules. At first he fails and notices that a nasty virus begins to download onto his devices. He is quick enough to activate his antivirus software and stop it before it infects all of his devices, including Messalina!
The Intelligence data module contains records of all of the communications between the Star-Eater’s Spine and the Devourer cult on Castrovel (Tahomen). Although it appears that the cultists tried to erase this data before they deserted the base. You are able to recover most of the communication logs for the base’s comm unit. These captioned recordings document the Castrovelian cult leader Tahomen’s boastful crowing about his cult’s activities at the Temple of the Twelve, including a premature (and ultimately untrue) claim of the cult’s humiliating defeat of the PCs. The last communication log, however, takes on a triumphantly gleeful tone. In it, Tahomen reports that information in the temple’s inner sanctum has revealed the location of the “key” emphasized in Nyara’s prophecy. In the final line of the recording, Tahomen jubilantly states, “Our future awaits, far beyond the confines of the Star-Eater’s Spine! You must fly, my sisters and brothers! Fly to (garbled static), where the Key awaits…” The recording then ends.
The name of the location the cultists fled to was deliberately deleted and then meticulously scrubbed from the system. The electronic signature of the hacker who performed these tasks is unlike any of the digital footprints left in either this datacore or the computer terminal at the entrance. However, there are clear signs that this data was deleted just a few days ago— sometime after the cultists abandoned the Star-Eater’s Spine.
*****
The Sacred Lore Data Module contains reams of information about the cult’s profane belief in the Devourer, the assured entropy of the universe, and the cultists’ unholy roles in bringing about the end of existence for the glory of their dark religion. In addition to general religious dogma and near-mad ramblings, the data module also details the Star-Eater’s Spine cult’s fascination with an ancient elven soothsayer named Nyara. The data even includes a computer-generated hologram of Nyara recounting some of her most enigmatic prognostications, as recorded in her most infamous book, The Entropy of Existence and Glorious Rise of the Void, which the cultists of the Star-Eater’s Spine treat as gospel. One of these predictions is flagged as high-priority; once accessed, the hologram of Nyara recites, “In the maw of the Twelve lies the Key. Forsooth, shall all be undone. When the knee meets the gorge, so far. The widening gyre implodes—magnificently.” An annotation on the file points to the cult’s study of this prophecy stored in the datacore’s Activities data module.
Centuries ago, an evil and malicious elven mystic named Nyara lived a depraved existence on Castrovel. At the time, the Cult of the Devourer was merely a shadow of a threat to the civilized species of the galaxy, but Nyara discovered in the dogma of the Star-Eater the nihilistic ambition for which she later became known. Nyara fed off the pain and suffering of those weaker than her, and she slaughtered hundreds and quickly rose through the ranks of Castrovel’s Star-Eater cult. As the number of atrocities she committed in the Devourer’s name mounted, Nyara came to believe that her uncaring patron would visit a terrible fate on her soul should she not work to further the total destruction of existence that the Devourer so coveted.
Committing herself fully to the Devourer’s entropic cause, Nyara began a career in dark soothsaying. Her killings became ritualistic rather than indiscriminate, and she drew prophecies from the very blood of her victims. Nyara spent her long elven life span extracting the terrible secrets underlying creation and extrapolating innumerable doomsday futures. Before her death, Nyara recorded her most profane divinations in her magnum opus, a tome called The Entropy of Existence and Glorious Rise of the Void. This work, though obscure to the galaxy at large, is considered a key unholy text to many Devourer cults. Its dark prophecies span countless realities, including dozens of ways that the multiverse and all its planes of existence might someday come to an end. But Nyara transcribed her predictions in imprecise and enigmatic language, as prophets are wont to do, and the scattered Devourer cults have had little success in parsing the elven mystic’s words and bringing her prophecies to fruition.
Abe types away, trying to hack the computer when a red light starts flashing in his gear. His typing increases in both speed and pressure as he keeps glancing at the flashing light... By the end, sweat is beading on Abe's substantial forehead as he works frantically. The screen goes black and the red light stops flashing. Abe leans back in the chair and exhales a long held breath.
A moment later, data starts flowing and Abe starts breathing again. Text dances on the screens and a hologram shines forth. Abe skips through the information, announcing the pertinent bits as above.
At the end he says, "So someone has been here after the cultists. Someone stealthy to have gotten past all those robots and such without setting them off." He mops his brow with his sleeve continuing, "And we don't know where to go next. Maybe when we go through this material more carefully some clue will pop up, but for now, I'm not sure where they went."
Wow ABE, all those keystrokes and you got a treasure trove of information on these lunatics. Just look at that whacked out elf with the spikey hair. Almost anyone can tell -just from the picture- that the turbolift doesn't go all the way to the top floor.
Anyway, good work. The Zane will leave all this cosmic mumbo jumbo to Coach and to you to figure out where we need to go and what skull squadron zombies to laserblast.
With that, he smiles at ABE and the hard work he put into all that computer do-dad stuff.
Zane goes back to his rhythm's... picking back up where he faltered before.
Easy-Bi-neesy - Vetch no-goblo..... Better try that one again later.
Zamboni, Baroni- Vetch likes to fall pron-ey
Fazina, Bobina - Lina soars.....Dang! Another mental block!All the events--- the security droids, the pungent stench, the laser grid trap, and the acid bath seem like nothing to Zane as he grapples with how to make a good rhyme that incorporates Fazina and Lina or Messalina........
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Draka pulls The Zane to the side so they can take selfies with the corpse of the creature. “The Zane, over here. Robot. Toes.” The vesk beckons her other companions over while Abe works hard at the terminal. Draka lifts and positions the creatures front paws so one rests over both Draka’s and The Zane’s shoulder. “This cover of new video. Make lots of Draka fans click.” Draka seems absorbed in finishing up her data collection for her video. She’s not very interested in what the others are doing – other than perhaps The Zane, her partner in her new web series “Blood and Fury.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back on The Sunrise Maiden, after fully exploring the asteroid, Zane gets down to work designing. While on the surface, he was trying to give Draka a cue on whether she was going to stay grounded and fight the SkreeSire or do as Dash mentioned and back up and attack from a distance. for some odd reason, he was being coy and promised to give some of Draka's peeps a t-shirt as a giveaway.
Silly Zane. It's Draka's show. He's just going to become even more famous because of it.
But, Zane needed to do SOMETHING. He couldn't just dump something like this onto Draka. He might just get a Swoop Hammer to the head.
He'll have to use some of this nice wealth they found and get a few dozen t-shirts made up and pay the Correllian shipping costs.
But he needed something on the front of the shirts. So he went to work. Not an artist by any imagination, he cobbles something together and goes to Draka.“Draka, The Zane knows that your fan base expects some t-shirts because he sort of mentioned it on vid-feed. To help, The Zane will get them made and shipped out. Being that it's your show and celebrity - thought you'd want to see the prototype.”
The vesk turns from her editing the video to look at The Zane. She offeres her companions a wide, toothy vesk grin. “Draka glad The Zane is getting into the show. Blood and Fury appeal to broader audience with The Zane help.” Draka takes the design from The Zane to examine it.
“What do you think? Back to the drawing board?”
ACE Chemicals- Blood and Fury Style
The vesk’s eyes shine with delight at the green color – a different shade than her skin, but green nonetheless. She looks from the design to The Zane. “Draka like to accessorize with glitter and blood,” she shrugs, “but it style suggestion.” Draka imparts her worldly knowledge: “blood not fresh if shipped. Draka try once. It not work out.” The vesk hands The Zane back his design, “Draka proud to wear design since The Zane work hard… If The Zane want.” The vesk lifts a single claw to her mouth like Philosoraptor
Draka finishes the video and uploads it with their selfie with the Veolisk as the cover image. Soon, everyone subscribed to Draka’s channel gets a notification that a new video has been uploaded. “BLOOD AND FURY #1 Cultists’ Lair!” Under the title, there are several tags in the description, like: “acid creatures,” “robots” and “dancing.”
The video opens up with the party right outside of the landed Sunrise Maiden:
“Oh. Hello, Draka fans. Draka been so busy, Draka not see you there.” Draka’s second set of eyelids close and open, and she smiles toothily. “Just kidding! Draka recording video.” Draka’s communicator pans out so her audience can see their location. “Today, Draka and friends going to stop cultists. Draka not sure what cultists do, but Draka not disappoint fans. Speaking of fans, Draka make shoutout to awesome fan named Zekanoya Spikesmasher, who shared many legged rat with Draka.” Draka presses another button and a preset clip of herself munching into the creature comes up on screen. In the background of the clip, the audience can see Dash and Captain Alera Okwana talking. Between the bone crunching noises, you can make out Captain Alera’s voice: “something equally stupid. Come to think of” Draka presses another two buttons and her green, scaly face is talking into the screen again.
“And now. It’s time. FOR BLOOD AND FURY! RAAAR!!” Draka snarls into the camera lens, shaking her head wildly side-to-side. She lifts a clawed hand like she’s about to claw her viewers.
Intimidate (BLOOD AND FURY! RAAAR!!): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Draka, who had not been discreet with her recording when leaving the ship, turns to The Zane. “Draka’s new friend, The Zane, why are we going blood and fury on these cultists?” Draka nods, but seems more interested in the violence: “What The Zane planning? Removing spine? Chopping off head? Draka ask the important questions.”
The camera changes to The Zane as he’s showing off the terrain. The camera zooms in to where he’s pointing and zooms back out to focus on his face:
[b] “See the Valley effect. Snipers love the high ground. Gives them huge tactical advantages. That's why Coach, Vetch, and Abe are making certain the high ground is clear.”
“Reminds Zane of a sniper that was encountered just a couple weeks back. Great Story of The Zane and Lina taking it on single handedly. The Zane slashed and knocked that miserable sniper off the statue to it's plunging death 250 feet below. Whew GREAT Combat.”
The camera changes again and it’s a clip of Draka in her bedroom of the Sunrise Maiden showing off the framed picture The Zane gifted her. “As you can see, Draka fans, The Zane very experienced with adventuring.” Draka studiously points to the image, “as Draka fans can see, The Zane talented and brave adventurer.” There’s a sound clip of a group of people oohing and aahing.
It's a picture of Zane, in battle tested armor holding a distressed female in a firemans carry. The female is bleeding from the forehead and Zane is obviously saving her from great harm.
The video changes again and the group is in combat. The recording picks up on Dash’s voice over the sound of combat:
”Hey, I know these winged a$$holes...” Dash sends through the comms, then explains.
”Zane, hold your shot until Abe clears, Draka, give us a shot before you get in there and start swinging that streetlight. Everyone, focus fire on a target until it drops. Now let’s take these motherf@#%ers down yo!”
There’s footage of the chaos and then a close-up shot of Draka flattening a Screecher into a pile of ash with her Swoop Hammer. Then, the camera changes to focus on Abe’s companion – Messalina – as the drone scores a critical hit with the zero rifle. The video has been clipped so that there’s action back to back. Dash’s voice: ”Winged f@#%ers!” and Vetch’s voice [b] “DRAKA! YOU'D BETTER NOT BE FILMING THIS!! FIGHT!!" interrupt the screeching and gun shots picked up by Draka’s recording device. After Vetch’s voice, the video momentarily focuses in on his toe-less hind feet. Then, Draka is grabbing the trap door and ripping it off its hinges: “"AURRRAAAGH!!! Door boss no match for Draka!" The next shot shows The Zane being grappled by the Skreesire in the acid pool. There’s a slow motion The Zane hitting the acid the and putrid fumes the rise from the contact. The montage ends with The Zane making merchandising promises and Draka telling fans to watch until the end of the video for details.
The camera changes again and the party inside the cultist lair. The part where Draka got a faceful of spores has been conveniently left out. Draka is pointing out the broccoli florets and the camera pans over to record Vetch’s expression. Behind Vetch, The Zane is commenting “Umm, that sure doesn't look like Broccoli.”The video changes and Draka is talking to Abe: "Ship Wizard, have you followed Draka on StarTube? The Zane has. Draka have purpose too."
It takes a moment, but Abe recognizes the question is aimed at him, not at those with more spell casting ability. ”Oh, Uh, no, I don’t spend much time on StarTube. I’m sure you’re a sensation there.” he adds politely.
Under Abe’s interview shot, it reads: doesn’t have an unlimited data plan
The Zane cuts in during the interview:“Draka's MORE than a sensation! She is recreating art and the Universe!”
Underneath his close-up, it reads: expert at all things sensational
The next shot is of Draka, The Zane, and Dash dancing to “Candyman.”The video jumps and Draka is snarling "Dalek broke Draka's nail! Nobody ruins Draka manicure. NO- RAAUUH!" and “Hold still, robot. Draka flatten your skull!” [/b] In the background, The Zane is continuing his dance and singing:
“Pump it up!
The S is for Super
The U is for Unique
The P is for Perfection
and you know that Dash is Freak!
The E is for Exotic
and the R is for RAPS!
So tell all your boys just to stay the HELL BACK!
SUPERSONIC!
BUMP - BUMP-BUMP
SUPERSONIC!”
The camera ends on Dash as the android pops a new rifle from his glove and fires:
“Hey, laserface! Your lug nuts are showing!”
Under Dash’s shooting stance, in big, pink, glittery letters it reads: Sassy!
Draka clips out the parts where they found the new armor, wanting to save it for a “big reveal.” The last fight doesn’t include Draka, specifically, but her arm when she bites herself. The screen is coated with blood and most of the footage from the fight is hidden behind the red. The sounds of battle and the blurry forms are the only signs of the bout.The camera changes again. The screen is clear and Draka is back on the Sunrise Maiden. “Tune in to my next BLOOD AND FURY video! Draka not sure where going next, but Draka will let Draka fans know. Like and subscribe to Draka’s channel! And comment on Draka’s video. Draka love all fans.” Draka smiles, revealing her pointy vesk teeth and the video ends.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At the end he says, "So someone has been here after the cultists. Someone stealthy to have gotten past all those robots and such without setting them off." He mops his brow with his sleeve continuing, "And we don't know where to go next. Maybe when we go through this material more carefully some clue will pop up, but for now, I'm not sure where they went."
Draka has brought her battered blender into the common area, along with an assortment of other items: the corpse of a Screechling, the half-eaten Snickers bar, a dull knife from the ship’s kitchen, and a container of questionable milk. The vesk piles all of the items – including the cutlery – into the poor, abused blender. Draka holds the top on the blender with one massive hand and presses the “Milkshake” button with the other. The battered device gurgles and sputters, straining under the weight of the meat and bone. The vesk taps the side with her fist, dislodging the knife from the Screechling wing. The knife clatters noisily and the blender whirrs ineffectively. Draka continues to help the machine along, tapping the side with her fist until the mixture is blended as much as it can be (not very.)
Satisfied, the vesk turns off the blender, removes the lid, and starts drinking. She has to take breaks to chew on the meat. About half-way through, Draka daintily plucks the knife out with two manicured nails and drops it on the table. “Draka think vesk not chasing cultists. That all Draka saying. Draka know how vesk think.” Draka sets the empty blender cup back on its stand. The milk and blood mixture slowly oozes to the bottom of the blender. “Draka not care where Draka friends go next. Draka...accompany.” Some may be surprised with Draka’s vocabulary. “Not follow. Draka trend setter.” The vesk examines her manicured claws and frowns at the broken one, “Draka must keep up glamorous appearance of popular vid star.”
Draka's "health shake" made quite a mess but she does clean it up before returning to her room to gussy up and get clean.
Vetch tries to support Abe for all that he can, which isn’t much. He will offer to unplug and replug things in, or turn machines on and off, but Vetch isn’t much help in the hacking department. However, he is pleased for the team success when Abe is able to download so much information.
”So...the cult has other plans? But we’re too late to know what to do next?” Vetch asks, disappointed that some pieces were missing. He looks over to see Draka’s selfie-ing and wonders what is wrong with *him* that he doesn’t feel the need to do that.
Abe enjoys The Zane’s rhyming, and difficulties. He relaxes a bit after the last few hours. When he sees Draka’s movie though… wow…
It’s not his style certainly, but he must admit it has a certain, panache. And definitely many long hours of practice, mashing the images, doctoring the cuts, and more. Quite impressive. He applauds Draka when it’s over, ”Most impressive! Next time let me know before you start the mash-up. I have some footage from Messalina that you might have liked to use.” he grins, ”Next time.” He smiles a while, thinking about the video.
Eventually he suggests, ”Let’s not forget those cold iron shards in the pit. We need to load them in the cargo bay before we leave.” he suggests, looking at the brawnier folk to do the heavy lifting, though he does help drag some over as well.
”Most impressive! Next time let me know before you start the mash-up. I have some footage from Messalina that you might have liked to use.” he grins, ”Next time.” He smiles a while, thinking about the video.
"Ship guru, you watch Draka video? Draka thought you not care!" The vesk's double eyelids blink. "Since Ship whisperer care about Draka video, maybe help with new Draka suit? Draka quick. Draka right back." The vesk stomps back into her room and returns a few minutes later wearing the Golemforged Plating III armor with the jump jets. "Draka need less skulls, fangs, and other strange Devourer symbols and more glitter. And Draka need suit to fit better."
Draka stares expectantly at Abe, wanting him to help her fit her suit.
Eventually he suggests, ”Let’s not forget those cold iron shards in the pit. We need to load them in the cargo bay before we leave.” he suggests, looking at the brawnier folk to do the heavy lifting, though he does help drag some over as well.
"Draka lift. No problem." The vesk reapplies her lipstick, then flexes.
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After Abe hacks the cultist database...
”Nice work there, kid.” He remarks, ignoring the fact that Abe looks at least a decade older than the ageless Android. ”You’re getting pretty f@#%ing good at this. Back in the day we had to trick these dumb machines with all manner of old-school hacks and phreqs. Knew this one girl, always carried a pocket full of Wizard gum. Used the metallic wrappers to bridge circuits, flash a BIOS, and reset almost any system. Called her Candy Crush.”
Looking over the data, he frowns at the revelation that someone “Candy Crushed” the computer before Abe. ”Well, they left enough of a trail to follow, and I think we can f@#%ing guess who the a$$holes are that wiped the drives - the corpse fleet. And I think we...hold on.” Dash looks at his iCom, which has begun playing a notification jingle.
♪Deedle do da deedle do da deedle do da deee!♫
”Ho.. ly... sh!t...”
He immediately begins searching for upgrades to his dance routines.
Is that ring tone a call from your Captain friend? Captain Okwana? If not, that's who The Sunrise Maiden should find and hail. See if she knows about any movements by Skull Squadron
He says all this as he tries to get different machines to help him with graphic design and silk screening.
Oh, by the way, you are an old android Coach - do you have any ability with silkscreening? The Zane's gotta make a bevy of Acid Bath t-shirts.
then he pauses
If you don't know - do you think it'd be productive to ask those on the Rusty Rivet? That lot seemed like they'd dig a cool t-shirt?
”I’ve made a few killer tie-dye shirts, but no silk screen.”
"Is that ring tone a call from your Captain friend? Captain Okwana? If not, that's who The Sunrise Maiden should find and hail. See if she knows about any movements by Skull Squadron"
The vesk steeples her claws together, "Draka would like to see Zekanoya Spikesmasher again." (Draka doesn't remember the name of the pirate captain.)
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As the group is milling about the Sunrise Maiden, discussing old crushes, androids smashing gears together in sensual ways and mixing lubricants, the rest of the crew discusses the next course of action. Draka makes a mean meat shake as Abe tinkers away upgrading the ship with the weapons that were found.
Dash takes off dancing to the sound of music on his comm unit as he notices a message blinking on his Captain's chair. It looks to be from Chiskisk!
Unfortunately there isn't much time to listen to it as suddenly every alarm in the ship begins going off at once. The screens show a tear in the drift opening nearby as a trio of interceptor class fighters. These ships are grotesque, baroque blendings of technology and strange magic, designed specifically for the comfort of their undead users. Their hulls shaped like the rib cages of great beasts. Behind them emerges a A strange living creature with lightning crackling from it's body, head to toe. This living worm-like creature is the size of the Sunrise maiden itself!
The necrogliders and beast seem to be heading straight for the asteroid as they lock onto the Sunrise Maiden.
Life Sciences
Vetch reacts by getting into the pilots chair and preparing for liftoff, not waiting another moment with threats on the way.
"Whelp, there goes the neighborhood," Vetch cites as he describes the big horrorshow following them (no, not Draka, see the spoiler above).
"C'mon, let's go. Get on our cannons! We're going to have to fight them off."