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You are taken to the near by settlement. Houses are formed out of some type of ceramic of the local clay, and there is quite a bit of refined metals about. A few chemical base internal combustion engine vehicles can be seen between the mix of livestock that is also still used for transport.
You can now see that the two inhabitants that are escorting you seem to be youths of the community. One of more elder members with slightly less glowing blue skin and some type of uniform, talks in to some type of sqauck box radio seeming to give some type of report and then comes up to you.
Others of the community seem to look in awe of Gizzmo, Aegis, and True Silver. Others look at some of your equipment and seem somewhat impressed.
The uniformed person motions for you to halt and starts to ask questions.
Seems to be typical questions of someone in authority, "Who are you?" "How did you get here?" "What are you doing?"
There is a mix of caution and some amazement with the officer. You also get a sense that they are interested in the recent "Explosions in the night sky"
In the distance the hellfire storm rages, but it does not seen to concern the natives much.
From a quick tell of the natives, they seems to have a level of fire resistance. So such a storm for them would be annoying rain, but for you could be a bit hazardous.
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True Silver finds himself wishing for a universal translator as he tries to communicate with the police officers? Once again, he uses similar techniques as he would in trying to keep an animal calm while interacting with them.
He tries to convey that they are Starfinders, stellar explorers, and they are here to investigate what happened to one of their outposts which is on this world not far from here.
I warn the others about the danger of the storm.
Would our armor protect us from the storm or at least give us some protection?
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Examining the local structures and seeing various levels of burn marks, you suspect that your armor should help, but some of the storm's fire could still damage you.
You notice quite a few electronic devices with the inhabitants, but given the level of technology, you would have expected the power packs/supplies to be larger. It seems that their own bio-electric bodies can act as batteries.
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Gizzmo-5 looks around and says "That's really interesting..." Noticing that the others aren't quite as quick to see what he sees he says "Look at the buildings, they have various levels of burns. Which means that our armor should help, but the storms can still hurt us. And look at the devices they hold compared to the power pack that are connected to them. There shouldn't be enough power to run them so they must be using their own bio-electric body to supplement the extra power needed. It's all very intriguing."
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As you explain the battle with the star creature the officer seems impressed. While telling this, a few other more bureaucratic looking officials show up and begin chatting with the officer. You sense they are a bit more reserved but when hearing about the battle, they also seem to warm up to you.
Things seem friendly until they finally realize that you are wanting to head to the outpost. There is a sudden change to one of caution. There is a sense of "corruption" or "possession" or "things man was not meant to know." They are fearful of the place, but you can not get any more detail as to why.
You are able to get a general sense of where it is from the village, "in the fire storm," but it is with much disapproval and warning, but they don't take any steps to stop you.
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"Please," Aegis-9 pleads. "Any information that you can provide regarding the outpost, would be of great help to us. In return, perhaps we could be of assistance to you?"
"If you fear spirits, I assure you that we have the means to deal with them." The android pulls forth his Idaran force training baton. "I obtained this device on a mission where I encountered a drift dead that had possessed one of my fellow officers." Aegis-9 says somberly. "Fortunately, this weapon was able to make an impact on the undead assailant." He demonstrates the weapon's force properties.
"My allies are similarly equipped with devices of special use. However, our best weapon is knowledge." the Starfinder says earnestly. "To be forewarned, is to be fore-armed."
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When Aegis holds up the force baton, the gathered official seem dutifully impressed. You get the sense the they are aware of the outpost, and you are able to get some idea of land marks to make your way to it.
You also seem to get that there is a link between the outpost, the storm, that which haunts the outpost, and the creature you fought in the sky. But without exact translation, the details escape you.
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Traveling towards the outpost takes you through the storm. At this point you realize that the storm is mostly stationary. It may grow and shrink a little over days, but for the most part seems to be long-term phenomena lasting days, weeks, or longer. You are able to make your way through and with the little guidance you got from the natives are able to avoid most of the hazards, but not all.
After making your way through the storm, you a notable gorge that leads to the outpost
Dilapidated circular buildings dot the landscape. A tumultuous storm rages all around, strong and fierce, without any sign of slowing down. A crumbling stone bridge crosses a broad gorge, offering a pathway directly into the heart of the turmoil. The constant battering of the storm devastated the buildings, reducing them to little more than ruins. The bridge is severely damaged and is in danger of collapsing.
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In case you want to know what the spell does.
School abjuration
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets up to one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 1 day/level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
You surround the target creatures with a constant and movable 1-inch shell of tolerable living conditions customized for each creature. This shell enables the targets to breathe freely in a variety of atmospheric conditions (including in corrosive, thick, thin, and toxic atmospheres), as well as underwater or in a vacuum. It also makes the targets immune to harmful gases and vapors, including inhaled diseases and poisons as well as spells with a harmful gaseous effect. In addition, the shell protects targets (and their equipment) from extreme temperatures (between –50° and 140° F) without having to attempt Fortitude saving throws, as well as extreme pressures. Life bubble doesn’t provide protection from energy damage, negative or positive energy (such as found on the Negative and Positive Energy Planes), or radiation; it also doesn’t provide the ability to see in conditions of poor visibility (such as in smoke or fog) or the ability to move or act normally in conditions that impede movement (such as underwater).
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Aegis: 4 Damage
Kal: 2 Damage
Gizzmo: 2 Damage
True Silver: 4 damage
You are all able to cross the bridge with out any issues.
In one of the buildings you notice A body lying still inside the remains of this decaying structure. Rubble pins the body’s feet to the ground. A hoarse sob resounds from the figure as the storm launches a piece of stone into its side. It twitches before going still once more, the rise and fall of its torso growing shallow with each breath. You realize that is another native that must have gotten trapped here.
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Although with good intention, you start digging them out, but more of the rubble falls on to the trapped native. However, with the healing that Vylit already did, they do not seem any worse from when you got there.
Fortunately with that new loosen pile you are now able to finish digging them out.
Uncertain of what to make of their rescue. The native cautiously says something, but quickly makes their way out though the storm back to the settlement
However, leaving quickly, they left their belongings. True Silver and Vylit find a cloth bag with, some type of weapon fusion seal, a strange ring, and some other assorted trinkets.
Level 4 trailblazer fusion seal
mk 1 ring of resistance
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The storm subsides enough for you to make it to the outpost proper without any other issues. As you approach you see a broken bulkhead door open leading into the compound.
Debris litters the floor of this otherwise empty chamber. The floor paneling has been ripped up in several areas, revealing the same ground as the exterior. The door to the west sits halfway open, leading outside. The doors to the north and south remain securely closed.
The ceilings of the circular structures are 20 feet high, while the connecting corridors’ ceilings are 15 feet high. The rooms and corridors are prefabricated structures built using a sturdy plastic material.
Vylit, Gizmo, and True Silver notice a still functioning security camera in the center of the ceiling. However you have no idea if it is actively being monitored or not.
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"None of our intelligence has indicated, with any certainty, whether or not this facility is presently occupied." Aegis-9 notes in response to Vylit's wave at the camera.
"However, given the stated age of this facility, if the camera is presently functioning, I think it likely that others are held up within." the android notes. "Perhaps, I should take a look."
Aegis-9 enters the room.
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As the laser fires on the android, Aegis-9 is forced to take a knee. After weathering the blast, he slowly rises to his feet.
"I am... functional." he says solemnly, attempting to reassure his comrades despite the obvious strain on his diodes.
With the blare of klaxons now threatening to drown out his words, the android now speaks louder and with command, "There does not appear to be any need to proceed with stealth. However, caution would be advised."
He draws his pulsecaster pistol and turns to the others. With glances to each of the doors at his right and his left, he asks, "We have minimal intel on this facility. If we are to find out what happened to the inhabitants here--to recover their story and any artifacts--we will likely have to go through each of those doors. So, where shall we begin?"