Smikk and Gideon immediately find that there are fan sites devoted to them!
The party moves through what seems like a.... made to look like Golarion's underground. The dwarves don't seem to notice.
As you arrive, the settlement is in distress. The explosion (caused by your prisoner) did more than blast a hole in the simulation’s exterior. Less than an hour ago, a fissure split down the middle of the settlement’s cavern, dropping a massive chunk of stone to crash into the Temple of Torag’s facade. The dwarves talk frantically with one another.
Ylga quickly explains that their elder and priest is trapped under a piece of collapsed ceiling.
Wazashi is all over it, "Good thing the brace, strong, and crafty Starfinders are here! So, what are you going to do?"
The party hustles into a temple that looks ancient. Inside are a small throng of dwarves frantically arguing and pointing in their language.
Pinned under a single chunk of ceiling is an older dwarf, clearly injured. The chunk of ceiling looks small enough that a very strong person could conceivably move it, or a well coordinated group. It also looks rough enough that there might be some way to juryrig a jig to maneuver it.
Spacey REALLY freaks out the pinned dwarf, and were it not for Ylga, the other dwarves would have stopped the creature. Words like "aberration" are thrown around. When his touch heals the dwarf's wounds everyone gives prayers to Torag.
Zed looks over the piece of ceiling, and thinks he can get the thing off without further (or now, re-) injuring the dwarf.
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Noble-44 gives a pull of the cable, but is obviously not making a difference. He frown hoping he’s not causing any further damnage or harm.
”This is about as far away from my natural talents as we can ask...”
He looks at the dwarfs and speaks ‘friend’ in Elven .. and then ‘help’. Hopefully to encourage their assistance.
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Gideon sets his shoulder against the boulder and leans into it, testing its weight and gradually increasing his push.
As he does so, his strained voice calls out to the gathered assembly. "Friends! Comrades!" Gideon's baritone booms out across the room. "There is strength in unity! We eclectic few hail from divergent paths, yet fate has entwined us. The life of your clan shall thrive yet, if we can come together to save this elder! Come! Push! PUSH!!!"
While the Starfinders don't make for very good television (except Zed, who provides the comic relief.) Fortunately Gideon drives into the piece hard, using the angle Zed pointed out. While they don't understand his words, the dwarves understand his intent.
Everyone comes together to push the ceiling piece off the dwarf!
The dwarf gets up like nothing happened. He tries to talk to you, using all the same languages. When he sees it's not going to go well, he excuses himself...
The older, grey bearded dwarf returns with an empty spell crystal.
He holds it up, "Ha! Torag never ceases to amaze, crystals which hold spells! You should all be able to understand me now, so let me start with THANK YOU. Come, let us sit down and talk. Tell me why you have a short orc and undead with you...."
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Noble calls out over his shoulder ”Oh ... no worries about Deady McDeady-Face over there. He’s a temporary hinderance.”. He points his gun at the goblin and shakes his head slowly.
”The rest are a .... documentation crew ... of our exploits, as ‘great’ as they are. We’re Starfinders, on an exploration mission. More imporantly is your story. Our documentary guys here know us, you are far more interesting. Please, introduce yourself, your clan here, your home, etc?”
He looks to the rest of the party ”At somepoint the details could be the audible equivalent of a Pan Galatic Garble Blaster...”
"Torag is angry with me. That ceiling on me hip is proof." The dwarf looks melancholy. "My name is Holsin Nolskrit. It seems that Torag is angry with the whole Marbleheart Clan. I cannae tell why. I think, after SO long, we're finally near the surface. For generations my people have climbed higher and higher in the Darklands, following Torag’s prophesied tremor that began the Quest for Sky. Ever since, Torag has rumbled periodically reminding us to ascend, and we've always listened. Now Torag’s miracles have become less powerful..."
Holsin sighs, "I worry that it is because the his power is diluted by the influence of surface faiths with which he must contend. The “short orcs”, like the one you keep, have also returned with magic wands from the surface to fight us. Furthermore, the orcs have used vile surface magic to channel the sky-realm’s toxic air into the caverns and kill my people."
"If we dwarves are to survive and reach the surface, someone able to survive the poisons must travel into the deadly fog and clear the tunnels for us. Maybe you're a gift from the All Father."
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Wazashi looks at you and it's easy to read her words, despite the lack of lips, "What the crap is going on here?" She hurries the film crew to line up close ups (and getting swatted away by one of the dwarves.)
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Gideon did see some actual blood and wounds healed by Spacey....
Goblins? That's the word for those short orcs? They seem all together stupid, brutish, unintelligent, thoroughly evil . As for how long.... I... We... we don't know. Seems like it's been eons."
While the conversation unfolds, Wazashi pulls Noble-44 aside and practically shoves the android into the booth.
Once in the booth, you get hammered with questions.
So, how's it feel to be talking with a bunch of Dwarves who don't seem to know about the gap??"
"What the heck is up with your strange religion?"
"Gideon.... seems to fancy himself the leader. How do you feel about that?"
The dwarven elder looks at you, "Please, will ye help us complete our mission?"
"I see that mercantilism exists on Golarion's surface too! Very well, what is found is yours for the keeping. I'll also come with you and support you with my spells."
The other dwarves object, but Holsin shuts it down. "Come now, let us go. I am eager for progress."
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"How do I feel? Elated! For us Starfinders who like exploration and finding something new, you don't get much sweeter. Who know's where it'll pan out. Maybe they have Gap-related knowledge. Maybe they are an experiment by some horrible creature who'll we'll get to fight, and obviously win. Maybe they're just some biological automotons part of some Infosphere trolling. All part of the job."
He smirks at the notion of his relgion being strange and then get's a little wild-eyed. "Mine is no stranger than any religion.... just less well know or populated. But being the head of a church for a god such as Savain is strange. A lot of the tenents include the 'removing' of 'people', which people tend to disagree with. That balancing act is tricky. The rest is easy... being really good at killing, hiding, learning as much as you can about anything... which includes exploring!. All sorts of stuff. My Infosphere address is Noble-44@TheSilentBlade.geocities.com and you and Twibble me at Noble-44 ... The people can always ask and I welcome followers who are willing to listen and learn!"
He calms a bit...
"As for Gideon ... it's easy. Another lesson of the church is to let the bold and physical lead the way. They tend to get shot first and give you shadows to hide in. But as I said, there's a balancing act. He happens to be skilled and a good friend who can lead. I think it's a win all the way around."
Noble-44 comes out of the booth and see's the group prepping for action "YES! Let's get some adventuring going and that goblin dead. I'm all on board!"
With everyone ready, the party, plus one, heads out. Holsin casts a spell that produces a bubble around his head.
The tunnels extend only another mile up, and you reach the uppermost cavern after about 90 minutes of travel. After traveling a half mile or so, the air becomes visibly cloudy, and before long toxic gas obscures all distant objects and terrain, giving the caverns a spooky and menacing ambiance.
"Dammit. More short orcs. Heavily armored." It's tough to see in the mist, but the old dwarf's eyes are keen. Most of you catch it too, and they see you!
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There are a quartet of goblins, led by one EXTRA tough looking goblin. Since even in the far flung future they're still homicidal maniacs unfit for society, and in no way appropriate for heroes, they ready to attack you.
When you look at the goblins, you realize that its ratty armor’s environmental protections are unstable and could be disabled by fast hands or a careful shot.
Round 1:
Smikk: Go
Goblins: TBD
Noble-44: TBD
Spacey: TBD
Holsin: TBD
Gideon: TBD
Zed: TBD
Smikk's shot hits the closest goblin, who screams in pain, even as he laughs at the violence.
The closest pair of goblins shoot junklasers at Smikk:
MISS
The others shoot through the fog at whoever:
MISS
MISS
The big boss rushes in, shooting as he goes. Unlike the others, he shows NO signs of slowing down for cover. He takes aim at Noble-44 for
Round 1:
Smikk: Hit
Goblins: ATK
Noble-44: Go
Spacey: Go
Holsin: Go
Gideon: Go
Zed: Go
Blue: 3
Zed moves in, navigating the crew, and takes a shot. This close he now sees it's simply a goblin in powered armor! Still, it's a hit, though a glancing one. The foe shouts in Common, "Big Genius Polbak will squish you flat!"
Round 1:
Smikk: Hit
Goblins: ATK
Noble-44: Go
Spacey: Go
Holsin: Go
Gideon: Go
Zed: Hit
Blue: 3
Big Genius: 2
Gideon and the "Big Genius" prep for a showdown. There's an instant close up on both. Even the camera crew begins to bet.
Holsin lets Gideon have his stand. He instead summons a wisp of energy and sends it zipping over to the other goblin
Round 1:
Smikk: Hit
Goblins: ATK
Noble-44: Go
Spacey: Go
Holsin: Wisp Ally
Gideon: Molon Lave
Zed: Hit
Blue: 3
Big Genius: 2
Spacey risks the goblin's mind, scrambling it with aplomb . The creature immediately starts banging its helmet with the butt of his gun. Alas, his mind stays scrambled.
Unfortunately, Noble-44's shot hits a stalagmite instead of it's intended target.
Round 2:
Smikk: go
Goblins: TBD
Noble-44: TBD
Spacey: TBD
Holsin: TBD
Gideon: TBD
Zed: TBD
Black: Harried
Blue: 3
Big Genius: 14
Smikk's shot hits the goblin right in the face. Even through the poisonous gas you can all plainly see that it's head is missing. The body falls a few seconds later. A camera ghoul zooms in. The shot will be a meme within seconds....
The goblin with the wisp about it shoots at Smikk , but almost shoots his foot instead.
The other two grunts shoot at Gideon
for
Despite his addled brain, the lead goblin activates his jump jets and lands behind Gideon . He tries to stab the solarian with his automatic-punchslicer! for
Round 2:
Smikk: Kill
Goblins: ATK
Noble-44: Go + AoO
Spacey: Go
Holsin: Go
Gideon: Go + AoO
Zed: Go
Black: Harried
Big Genius: 14
The big bad leaps into position. Noble-44 isn't ready for it, but Gideon certainly is. His punch addles the goblin, and a second later its eyes roll into the back of it's overly large head as Spacey fries what's left of it's brain!
Noble-44 makes up for it with a clean shot on the goblin in the white space suit.
Holsin summons forth another wisp to harry the center goblin. It doesn't last long as Gideon, powered by star-stuff charges the center goblin and snaps it's stupid neck.
Zed follows up with a shot right behind Noble's dropping yet another goblin.
This. This is good viewing!
The goblin, knowing what comes next, attempts to flee. It doesn't get far...
With the goblins defeated, you can freely explore the cavern. Aside from some rather junky equipment of goblin styling, you find a LARGE door. The door doesn't seem to have an obvious means of opening.