With Gunnz' help, Shelldrake does a little better. Savoy still looks hopeless, though.
Sirion manages to not makes himself look too much of a fool, but that's really where it ends. Despite this, the party seems to make a good impression.
Shortly after the welcoming ceremony, another alien steps into the firelight. She is thinner than the others and dressed in shimmering fabrics, though it is clear she has a few bandaged wounds. Most strikingly, she sports a pair of membranous wings, unlike any of the other aliens!
The aliens treat her with respect, though not reverence, as she enters, and allow her to walk right up to the party. She looks over the party for a moment and then gestures to her throat and mouth. Her hand lights up with energy, and she uses it to point to one of the PCs’ throat and mouth.
She doesn't mean any harm.
Looks like she just cast 'share language', and needs to touch someone for it to take effect.
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"I'm not entirely convinced of her intentions.......but I think she might want to cast spell on one of us so she can communicate with us."
..of course for all we know it's so she can insult all of us on our dance moves and we'd be able to understand it...who knows with these strange aliens...' Savoy thinks to himself as he tries to sense the winged aliens motive(s)
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"I'm a bit rusty on how most spells work, I need to take a refreshing course on intro into spells when we get back to Absolom...I thought that she touches someone and learns the language the touches person knows? But I'll bow to your knowledge of understanding the fundamentals of spells and if you say it's the touched person who learns to speak then I'm willing to step forward"
Savoy stands up and steps next to Gunnz pointing at himself - both his throat and his ears - then at Gunnz..and then at the others in the party
The alien touches Savoy, and then turns to Gunnz and Sirion. When she is done, she speaks a language that can suddenly be understood:
You are unlike any other people I have ever met. Possibly the same is true of you for me. We have much we can teach one another.
My name is Klarima. You are among the Husk Ghibrani, the chosen children of mother Touloo.
She speaks of the Husk as if she doesn't count herself among them.
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"Indeed, you and the Husk Ghibrani are also unlike any other people we have met. From your speech I take it that you are not a Husk Ghibrani? May I ask what kind of species you call yourself? I am an elf, these are an android, human and lashunta"
Sirion points to Shelldrake, Gunnz and Savoy as he states their species.
Back at the ship, RZMR busies itself with analyzing all of the data it has collected about each of the Starfinders on the mission, trying to find the weak points in their psyche that it can use to leverage recruitment into belief in the great Razmiran doctrines.
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"Yes, I am human. You seem on friendly terms with the Husk Ghibrani." notes Gunnz.
"We saw a city protected by a force field that we detected as we arrived. Do you know about that?" she adds. "The simple life of these folk seems at odds with the technology level we detected there."
After a pause she adds "Is mother Touloo the leader of the Husk?"
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"My name is Savoy, we are members of the Starfinder Society..who's credo is to Explore, Cooperate and Report..so we very much would like to know more about you and the Husk..and the planet in general to be honest. Could you tell us more"
Savoy then translate what is said to Shelldrake who seems to be left out of the spell casting
Klarima looks surprised at Savoy's question: Oh my, what a strange question! Surely, everyone knows of the great war between the nation-states. The invisible fire they rained down upon one another killed most living things across the globe. It was only thanks to the foresight of our ancestors that any of us survived to see today.”
Many generations ago, after the war, a faction of my people received protection from a divine power named Mother Touloo. They struck out into the wastelands at their deity’s behest. In doing so, they eventually lost the use of their wings. These ‘husks,’ as we call them, are those you see before you.” She gestures around the cavern. “Those of us who retained the power of flight are known as ‘membranes’ by these people. We live within the city of Arkeost - that is the domed city you have seen.
Arkeost, a shining beacon of civilization! One of the few left on this world, I’ve been told. It is also my home. I can take you there if you agree to escort me across the wastes.”
Of course, there is no need to rush. I would like to make you a deal: let me show you how to pass the force field. All I ask in return is your protection on the short journey there.
As the dance progresses, the Husk Ghibranis come up to the party to show their appreciation and present Savoy with a special gift. It is a ritual rifle, which Klarima explains to be a Huchket, a rifle used by husk hunters. The husks also offer three vials of liquid. This is the special healing liquid of the Husks. They are very good medics, they treated my wounds quite well.
----
Later in the afternoon, Klarima leads the party through the badlands toward the shining metropolis in the distance. The journey takes only a few hours.
Elytrio’s sun is beginning to set as they approach the edge of a visible force field half a mile outside of the city. Klarima retrieves a clunky and ancient-looking datapad from her pack and presses a few buttons on it. There is a brief pause when nothing happens and, a little frustrated, she touches the same sequence of buttons on the device. This time, a circular portion of the force field opens like a door. Klarima steps through and gestures for the party to follow. Once past the barrier, Klarima presses another button on her datapad and the force field closes again.
It is another half hour walk before the party reaches the city, and by now the lights have come on.
The strange metropolis sparkles like a jewel in the gloom of dusk. In stark contrast to the desolation surrounding it, the city is a bustling center of activity, with dozens of winged insectoid aliens going about their business, flitting from one high doorway to another. The streets below seem almost like an afterthought, used only occasionally by small automated machines. Several overgrown flower beds and shaggy trees fill the spaces between the roads and hug the sides of the tall buildings. Though the structures still look sturdy, obvious patches of rust and other disrepair indicate that they haven’t been very well taken care of.
Most of the citizen stop to stare at the newcomers. In short order, a contingent of ghibranis wearing formal armor and carrying weapons that look like taclashes flutters down to confront the group.
These guards seem oddly uncomfortable with the weaponry they are carrying.
Klarima steps forward before anything bad can happen, and seems to explain the presence of the party to the guards. She spends a few moment conferring with the guards and then turns back on the party Good news! You are going to be allowed to speak to the Most Elevated!
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Savoy stays at the party and tries to learn as much as he can, then at the appropriate time he leaves with the others. He gracefully accepts the special gift.
"I'm sorry. I'm ill prepared to exchange gift, but I hope you will accept this in return"
Savoy offers her his flashlight.
He then telepathically lets the others in the party know that;
"These guards seem oddly uncomfortable with the weaponry they are carrying"
After hearing that they will be allowed to speak to the Most Elevated
"That sounds like a true honor"
"Is there anything you think we should know before that honor is bestowed upon us and we meet the Most Elevated? I wouldn't want to embarras myself in the presence of the Most Elevated"
Following the enthousiasm of the party, the newly acquired honor guard flits their wings and flies toward an opening in the tallest, fanciest building in the city, about 40 feet off the ground. Klarima looks set to do the same, but then realizes that none of the adventurers can actually fly.
Using her datapad, she summons a number of table-size hovering drones. As Gunnz steps onto the first drone, it momentarily gives out, but then restabilizes. The robots slowly but surely lift up the group, and hovers toward the building entrance.
The guards continue to usher the party, leading them to a large central chamber with vaulted ceilings. A large table occupies one end of the room, behind which sit five membrane ghibranis dressed in elaborate robes. They stand, bow to the party, and greet them with Please approach and have a seat
Klarima introduces the council as The Most Elevated Council of Arkeost before taking a seat herself. A council member then makes sure that Sirion, like the rest of the party, also understand the language spoken.
The council is curious and open, and ask many questions Do all of your species look like you? How did you travel to this place?
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"Most Elevated Council; like most species we are all similar but not the same. There are very distinctive difference between species, but within a species the difference are very minor. For example, my race the Lashunta have these short antenna, while my colleague's race"
At this point Savoy indicated first his own atenna and then motions towards Sirion
"is know for the pointy tips of it's ears"
"If you are interested in knowing more about the differences between species I'd be more then willing to try to set-up some sort of exchange program. I'm sure there's someone within our organisation who's an expert on biology or culture who'd be willing to come here and explain some things to you in exchange for the change to study your habits and environment and living habits"
Savoy tries to be very eloquent and diplomatic during this first contact moment
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Gunnz smiles at the council.
"We all vary quite a bit. Most of us come from different species." she nods to Savoy and his explanation.
"We came on a spaceship. Landed it a few hours walk through the desert. Can you tell us more about your city and your history? How long ago was the war that caused the Husks to leave your city?"
The war happened over 300 years ago, in a period of history marked by particular foolishness. The ghibrani were ones species then, but consisted of many nation states. The venerated a great god of battle and conquest. War erupted and most our race perished. The force field of Arkeost protected this enclave, but the invisible fire that lingered after the war wreaked havoc on the city.
Their god of battle sounds like a form of Damoritosh, the vesk god of war.
The membranes have been living in this city ever since, but enclaves of wsteland wanderers have been active outside. They gradually adapted to life outside the city, and you have encountered them, the Ghibrani Husks.
A gentle tone rings through the room, upon which Klarima visibly perks up Dinner! she says, It feels like ages since I’ve had a proper meal.
The guards, who had been standing at attention near the door to this room, pull chairs up to the table and a handful of hovering drones enter from previously hidden hatches in the walls. The drones place ceramic plates and utensils in front of each person; the utensil each person receives is a at piece of metal with a slight indent at one end—almost like a spoon. Each person is then given a serving of a thick, light tan liquid in which floats irregular chunks of protein. The food has a smoky, cheesy odor. As the ghibranis begin scooping up their meals, Klarima explains this is a traditional dinner of “kahlgee," a word that doesn’t really translate into Common.
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Triggered by something he hears Savoy lets the others telepathically know that
"Their god of battle sounds like a form of Damoritosh, the vesk god of war."
Not wanting to appear un-polite Savoy tries some of the food
..but he has trouble even keeping the tiniest bit down
"I'm sorry, but it seems that all the excitement today has rather upset my stomach"
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Gunnz and Sirion barely manage to keep the food in, revolted as they are. Shelldrake seems almost immune to the revolting nature of the protein gunk, but Savoy... oh my...
While Savoy struggles with his meal, the power suddenly goes out, leaving the room in darkness for almost half a minute. The ghibranis don’t seem too worried about the power fluctuation. “the Mainframe acts up occasionally, but it always self-corrects after a few seconds.” The council continues to chat happily, and eventually even present the group with a gift. We offer you one of our prices pieces of technology. Treat it with care, the council lead says upon presenting a pistol to Shelldrake.
Under casual inspection, this pistol appears to be a sturdy laser weapon.
MEMBRANE HOLDOUT PISTOL
A membrane holdout pistol is a 3rd-level, laser small-arm ranged weapon that deals 1d6 re damage and has the burn 1d6 critical hit effect. It has a range of 80 feet and holds 20 charges. It has L bulk and costs 1,250 credits.
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In the first print of this chronicle, I found it necessary to warn the reader against the content of chapter three, the one that starts with 'Savoy put a spoonful of kahlgee in his mouth...'. Beyond that single sentence, there is nothing in the description that is not utterly revolting, disturbing to the point of inhumanity. No, it was better that the reader skip the chapter altogether. Of course, this warning had quite the opposite effect - most readers would indeed ignore the first two chapters of my accurate transcription of Starfinder records, and head straight for the chapter that started with 'Savoy put a spoonful of kahlgee in his mouth...', only to be witness to its mind-bending grotesqueness. Therefore, in the current edition of this chronicle, I have decided to omit all sequences that can be interpreted as being disproportionally off-putting.
----Starfinder Chronicles Volume III - Preface
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Savoy put a spoonful of kahlgee in his mouth.
----Starfinder Chronicles Volume III, second print - Chapter 3
It has been like this for as long as we can remember. The Mainframe is on the outskirts of Arkeost. The council discusses among themselves for a bit, then continue There is no tradition regarding outsiders, so we see no problem with you entering the area. Klarima can guide you there.
The meeting finishes up, and Klarima helpfully says While you were busy... eh... eating, I have ordered some drones to convert a few ground-level warehouses into sleep quarters. They should provide you with accommodation for the night.
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The next day, Klarima offers to guide the party to the mainframe. There is an increased concentration of drones and other hovering robots in this neighborhood, though none seem to pay any attention to them. A large doorway leads into the structure and ar amp descends a bit into open garage-like space where thousands of drones are stored. Many are powered down and others are being repaired by other drones, leaving the adventurers to walk through patches of dead silence followed by stretches of frantic activity as they descended on curving ramps farther and farther below. As the group continues, they spot the several signs in Ghibrani that read “Taboo Area,” “Keep Out,” and other warnings with similarly grave images to accentuate the point. Eventually, they reach a hallway that branches off from the garages.
The hallway opens into a rectangular room of white plastic, a stark contrast to the smoky, grease-stained garages that led up to this place. Fans whir quietly overhead. Track lighting along the floor illuminates much of the chamber. Several white coveralls hang on the wall behind a bench to the north. A door leads to the east.
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"Need to, I don't know..but it does seem like something someone in the repair business would put on...which begs the questions...are they sized for us humanoid types..or the bug people..or for people with wings..and if they are sized for us...where are the people that can fit into them?"
"Look, a door...let's check it out"
The overalls seem to be made to fit Ghibrani anatomy, though with some stretching a humanoid can fit in.
Savoy doesn't discover too much, though he does find that the door is locked.
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"We in some kind of hurry?"
Shelldrake slows down and spends her time looking at the electricals (and testing with her equipment) to see if faulty power feeds to this area could be behind the mainframe acting up.
Take 20 Perception = 20
Take 10 Profession:Electrician (10+5+4) = 19
Take 10 Engineering = 15
Shelldrake seems to take her time inspecting the area, including all its wiring. This seems to be only the entry hall to the mainframe beyond, and not where the problem resides. Sirion tries on an overall while Savoy looks on.