Diarmal quickly mimes a symbol of peace and respite for the dead over his heart. "May Lady Aisling's light guide those who fell to better pastures. We should make all haste in returning." Grabbing his pack, Diarmal heaves it to his shoulder and heads for the door, waiting for the others to get their things ready for the trek back across the moors.
Meanwhile, aboard the Annic Nova, about a week before the death of the Strangler of the Shadow Moor…
The ship, the Annic Nova, was odd in a lot of ways. First, it seemed to be constructed from a mixture of materials old and new, strange and common, exotic and, well, absurd. The floor of his stateroom was made of hard wood.
Hardwood
Parker had stayed in old buildings, and certainly his time on Hamth had introduced him to floors made of wood, stone, and even dirt. But a hardwood floor, on a starship? It was ridiculous.
But then again, it was sort of a comfort, and warm on his bare feet, and it even smelled nice.
The stateroom he was given was not large, but wasn’t cramped either. He had a good sized bed, and a desk with a comfortable chair, and surprisingly enough, a private fresher chamber. The shower even had four settings and good water pressure. All in all, it wasn’t half bad.
His first week on the Annic Nova went buy faster than he realized. He never had a chance to load the brief from the drive in the satchel Dwyer had given him, and instead spent the week getting to know the crew and the layout of the ship.
During his second week, Parker played games with the crew, lost six hundred credits, and established an intimate relationship with Greta, the Carolidian Steward. It wasn’t until his third week aboard that he managed to set aside time to review the brief.
Parker was relieved that it wasn’t too technical. He was not relieved to read about the Contagion.
The Contagion, a four thousand ton hospital ship, now crashed on Hamth, seemed to be the source of the current situation. The cover up, or what was called in the brief, “The ‘Gion Conspiracy,” read like the worst parts of a political spy novel, written by a disgruntled bureaucrat.
Six attempts to examine the crash site all ended in unsolved mysteries. A total of fifty three operatives of the IRS, the CoIT, and the UCPG had disappeared trying to establish the exact situation of the wrecked vessel. All that Parker could puzzle out for certain, easily unraveled though many of the more exact details in the report were heavily redacted, was that the vessel was somehow, mostly, intact, suffered only minor damage in the grounding on the planet’s surface, and was not impossible to get to, though it was deep at the bottom of the deepest gorge on the planet’s surface, in a part of the world known to the locals as the Kijtan Wastelands.
But how does a four thousand ton displacement starship safely land on a class three world?
Simple, there is only one possible explanation.
It had to be carrying a globe. A Black Glob Generator, which would account for the miscalculated slide in the Aetherspace, and the ability for the vessel to descend through the atmosphere and park on planet side, with hardly a scratch.
But why would a hospital ship be carrying a piece of military hardware?
That was the sort of question Parker didn’t even like hearing in his own head, let alone wonder out loud.
The United Consortium of Planetary Governments, the UCGP, would be the only people in possession, legally, of one of the mysterious part magical, part technological wonders known around the universe as a Black Globe Generator, but a hospital ship would be under the flag of the IRS. It didn’t add up. Something was not right.
It would be another week of digging through the brief until Parker was close to understanding the delicacy of the situation unfolding on Hamth.
Well, two weeks, actually, after the Annic Nova made port at Rail Point Station, and after a week of shore leave with Greta, Parker needed a little down time of his own. It isn’t easy recovering from strained hamstrings.
Marvin spends a moment deciphering the coordinates Agent Southmiller sent them, putting all their energy into it.
They finally arrive at a good approximation of the data and points to the party the general area and direction to where Agent Southmiller might be.
"However," they add, "this unit cannot narrow it down any further. We must search within this area using these coordinates as a guide."
Ribat leads the party off in search of Agent Southmiller. While traveling, Ribat keeps an eye out for a branch that he could turn into a usable quarterstaff.
Day 3 Saturday (Turn 52) (Approximate time of day, 8:30 am)
Standing as still as stone, only the occasional flash of a blue light behind his eyes, Marvin contemplates the information for a very long time. Finally he comes to understand that the digits represent a measure of distance on a grid. It is not clear exactly what the measure is, but he is able to reason that it must be based upon a sectionalizing of the planet’s surface based upon meridians of longitude. It is impossible to tell exactly where Paulina will be, but a general determination, based upon the most reasonable measure of common Universal Transverse Mercator projections of a planet of nominal size such as this one, he has a very good idea of the most likely area.
With some difficulty, Marvin explains to Ribat exactly where the party needs to go, and even though Ribat is wholly unfamiliar with this land, his quick reasoning in the interpretation of the lay of the land, and judgment of the best course of action to take when obstacles arise, allow him to lead the group quickly across the land.
Almost heading directly east, occasionally changing directions when a stream, or hill side too steep to climb get in the way, Marvin and Ribat, working together as a team, lead the others on a day long trek. You soon leave the marshy, wet lands near the Shadow More, and gradually you rise in elevation, marching over low hills. Eventually, you approach a flat clearing of tall grass on a low hill some four miles to the north of Connie’s Bright.
On the hill is a strange looking sod covered hovel. It is long and narrow, about forty to fifty feet long, yet only 20 or so feet wide about twelve feet high. There appears to be a door on both of the short sides.
Marvin scouts the area before approaching one of the doors.
Day 3 Saturday (Turn 99) (Approximate time of day, 4:20 pm)
Marvin finds nothing out of the ordinary as he scouts the area around the strange hovel like structure.
Suddenly, a bell rings, and then the door to the sod covered house opens, and Paulina comes out.
I’m so glad you made it. Good. Now, everybody come inside quickly I’ll bring you up to speed on what I know.
Paulina holds the door open for everyone as you enter the little building.
The inside is stranger than the outside ever promised. Inside the walls, floor and ceiling a bright, clean, and dry, and appear to be made of materials you cannot identify.
You enter into a small room that has a few chairs, two desks, and one small bed like settee.
There appears to be a storage room immediately to your left, and at the back of this room, and beyond that you can see a small hall and the door that leads out the opposite side of the structure.
Friends, I’ll try to be quick and try not to confuse you. This is a thirty ton laboratory module. It was placed here forty years ago, and is used as a research and information transfer station. There is a hatch, um a trap door in the floor in the back corner of this floor that leads to a floor below us where there are three separate staterooms, you can rest there, each is designed for two normal sized individuals.
The equipment here is run off a fuel cell and power plant in the basement, so we have lights, heat, and fresh water for drinking and showers.
Using the equipment I have here I’ve been able to sort through some of the information we were able to recover from the ruins in the marsh. Apparently there is some kind of extra dimensional gate, a device of both technology and magic, that has been set up in the marsh and when it activates it opens a portal to a realm in a pocket dimension. This dimension seems to be commingled with the two other dimension, one of negative life force and one of shadows.
Creatures of both negative energy and shadow material have been entering this world through that gate, and now have completely overrun Connie’s Bright. I’m not sure how long it will be before anyone puts together a serious effort to attack and retake the village. All I do know is that the Sheriff has ridden on toward Williams Dale, where I think he is planning to alert the local Duke, Duke Landon Williams. If I know anything about Duke Williams, it will be weeks before he raises a hand to help those people. More importantly, I don’t see how attacking the village will help us, as reinforcements will keep arriving to strengthen the numbers of creatures already there.
I’ve forwarded all the information about this incident to the local System Defense Boat for this system, but I’ve not had a reply, which tells me they must be very far away from the planet at this time.
I’ll keep working on the files recovered from the ruins to try and get a fix on the location of whoever is behind all this, but in the mean time I want to ask you to head back into the marsh and find that gate. Shut it down, destroy it if you can and then place this device on or near it
She hands Marvin a small silver colored, metallic box.
With this device transmitting the location of the gate, I’ll ask the authorities to send a recovery shuttle and remove the technology from the planet as soon as it is made safe.
Will you do this? If we don’t shut down the gate, it won’t be just Connie’s Bright that is run over with these monsters, it will be the whole country, maybe the whole world.
Xor understanding nothing except the last sentence scratchews himself
Shut down a gate eh, save a buncha folks...sure I'm in
Marvin nods in acquiescence. "I am agreeable to your request, Agent Southmiller."
Diarmal is unsure whether Paulina's words or her residence are more unnerving. In a matter of days everything he'd known about the world had been flipped on its head. Marvin was one thing, a living(?) breathing(?) individual he could see and hear. But the rest of it? It was all above and beyond reason.
Slowly, the elf shrugs. In the end, it didn't really matter what Paulina was talking about, or where she came from, or what hole these beasts were surging from. People were endangered, and the light of Lady Aisling could bring them shelter. "I see no other option, then. We've got to find a way to close the gate."
|
Sasithorn emits a faint hiss and recoils from the lights upon entering, but then uses his magic to darken the room, at which point his expression becomes something else entirely as he looks around.
"Marvelous...."
He then register's Paulina's warning.
"Oh, and you say there's a gate to Shadow?!? That's marvelous, too! The Negative far less so, of course - but yes, yes, this shall be one for the ages! Such a privilege!" His head swims with the possible implications of what he is hearing, and he seems a bit more focused on that at the moment than being coherent to others.
"Um...have you any idea why this is happening? And why in Connie's Bright? And you said this was a constructed gate, didn't you? Who constructed it?"
Day 3 Saturday (Turn 99) (Approximate time of day, 4:20 pm)
Paulina smiles when the group agrees to go on the mission she has asked them to take.
When Sasithorn asks his questions she frowns, and answers
Hmmm, no, no idea why anyone would build this kind of gate, or even HOW! she throws her arms up. We’ve been carefully monitoring this world for a long time, and this might very well be the first time anything like this has ever been discovered. My instruments can detect machines, like the kind used in this gate, over a long range, but I have no way of actually detecting the workings of magic, so to be honest, I was sort of guessing on that part, but I don’t know how else to explain what my instruments are picking up, and what I saw in Connie’s Bright. As to why Connie’s Bright, I have a theory. Remember when those things attacked us the other night, they seemed to only be interested, or programmed, or driven maybe, to keep going east
Paulina gestures with her hand toward the east. So, maybe this gate is oriented toward the east, and whatever kind of intelligence these things have, they come out of the gate and just head straight away from it, toward whatever is in their path, and the only thing that changes their direction is something that tries to stop them. Does that make any sense?
Now, as to who, well, I’m still piecing that together, and maybe if Fonidea will stay here with me, I can get to the bottom of that. Just don’t misplace that tracking device. It is set to activate as soon as it is in close proximity to a particular signal that I am picking up that is coming from that gate.
Marvin nods to Paulina then asks, "What is the geographic range of the area that we must search, Agent Southmiller? This unit also requests for any supplies that you may deem to be useful for our mission. A communication device to keep in contact with you would be ideal so that our party may be updated with information."
When Marvin suggest Paulina supply the group with some equipment, she makes a funny face, draws in a sharp breath, pulling her cheeks back and gritting her teeth
Uh, I don’t think I can do that. I mean, I’ve got short range communication equipment here, but, uh, well maybe, She turns away from Marvin and reaches toward a cabinet, then suddenly stops herself, drops her arms stiff down by her side and turns back, saying
No! I, can’t take the risk, not without the proper authority. Sorry, Marvin, she says laying a sympathetic hand on Marvin’s arm I’m afraid I can’t send out any technology here that might get released to the population. But, don’t worry. I can send you messages, and well, you are already at large, and I had nothing to do with that. I don’t know what it would take to repair your systems so that you could send messages back to me. It might be something as simple as you’ve forgotten how, you know, maybe the protocol has been disabled and you just need to figure out if you can re enable it. I don’t know. The creatures coming out of the gate leave a pretty easy trail to follow, we saw that in Connie’s Bright, though I wouldn’t head straight there. The gate, I figure, is less than two miles due west of Connies Bright, and probably not more than a quarter mile north of the coast, though I suppose it could be under water, just off the coast, but that seems unlikely. Head to the southwest of here, till you are near the creek that runs to the west of Connie’s bright then follow that south, you should pick up a trail somewhere along the west side of the creek, I hope.
Ya don't know a whole lot do ya missy? Xor turns to the rest of the group. Let's get goin an end this mularkey for gud
Marvin only nods at Paulina's response, accepting her logic. "Understood."
Day 3 Saturday (Turn 99) (Approximate time of day, 4:20 pm)
When Xor jokes with Paulina, she blushes, then smiles, and says, Well, I suppose I only know enough to get me into trouble, after all
Then Xor suggest everyone get ready to begin the long trek back into the moors.
Marvin seems to be lost in concentration, but finally he comes around, blinks a couple of times and shrugs
You can follow that beacon, it should lead you toward the gate, or whatever it is, the energy signal is unique. But, are you sure you want to go now? The sun will be setting in just a couple of hours.
One less night in that filthy bog is awright with me, How bout we head out at first light
"Rest seems a reasonable course of action," Marvin agrees. "We should move when it would be most advantageous for our party."
Diarmal smirks wryly at Sasithorn's remark. He was a strange fellow, and it was no surprise the man was more comfortable in the dark than the light. At least he--unlike many other denizens of the night--bore a great respect for the world.
"I agree," he offers simply. "Perhaps the beasts we face will be disoriented by the light of day."
Day 3 Saturday (Turn 99) (Approximate time of day, 4:20 pm)
The party is shown to the two small sleeping rooms in the “Basement” of the strange building, or Module, as Paulina calls it. The rooms are dry, comfortable, and feel as if the temperature is just right (well, to everyone who feels temperature changes anyway – sorry Marvin)
Once they have unpacked their gear, and removed their weapons and armor, Paulina shows them a small room at the end of the basement, she calls it a “fresher” and shows everyone how the facilities are used, including a device that showers down fresh clean water, hot or cold onto a person, so that the roads grime and grit can be washed away.
Then Paulina brings everyone upstairs, and begins preparing a meal.
While everyone is eating, Ribbat, who has been silent most of the time, announces.
Ribbat - I cannot go any further with you, though you have been brave companions and good friends. I only stopped in Connie’s Bright for what was supposed to be a night of rest ashore, and I must get back to my business. Paulina, can I hope that Fonidea will be safe here with you until I can finish my responsibilities and then I will return, I promise.
Paulina assures Ribbat that she will do everything she can to keep Fonidea safe from harm
The meal is not taste, but it is filling, and sits easy on the stomach (well for those of you that have stomachs – sorry Marvin).
Day 4 Sunday morning, (turn 40) (approximate time of day, 6:30 am)
Paulina wakes everyone (well, everyone that sleeps – Sorry Marvin}. And the groups quietly prepares for the day ahead.
Stepping out of the shelter, the group discovers the morning is overcast, the sky thick with grey clouds. There is a steady but gentle breeze blowing from the south, the smell of the sea is faint in the air.
The device in Marvin’s hand indicates a course, to the south by southwest.
Xor wakes in the morning having declined the strange "fresher" he wakes in the morning stretching his arms and hitting the chamber pot...mostly
He eats his breakfast quickly and grabs his gear.
Well, let's get thisa done
Marvin nods. "This unit recommends a direct course. Probability of the creatures being out in daylight is at an acceptable level."
"Additionally, with Ribat gone, the party requires someone to lead the way. This unit has some training in this regard, but others may be more skilled."
Day 4 Sunday, (turn 46) (approximate time of day, 7:30 am)
Setting out uncertain of what dangers lie ahead of them
Diarmal
Sasithorn
Xor
And Marvin
Begin walking toward the south southeast, heading toward the Moors.
The countryside here is hilly, and after a while the group approaches a tall hill with a flat glade at the top. There is smoke rising into the air, signs of a small campfire, from the top of the hill.
Xor see's the smoke and begins traipsing off toward it. Ima guessin' t'aint no black thingies
Marvin considers the smoke and the hill for a moment. "This unit suggests the party first scout. The hill places any approach at a disadvantage."
Diarmal nods at Marvin's prudent suggestion. "Allow me. I've had a great deal of practice skulking around the hills of my homeland--though I admit Ribat had me beat hunting upon the moors." Grabbing his bow, Diarmal hunches low and moves forward, trying to move as quietly as he can while he approaches the hilltop.
From the top of the hill, Gwernach grunts, Mak'n as much noise assa pack'o revl'rs. The dwarf scratches his beard and takes up a long stick to poke at the embers of his small campfire. Adjusting a small kettle over the flames he turns back to look in the direction of the small band of heroes approaching his camp. Might as well invit'm up.
Calling out to the elf, Morn'n! Tis no point in try'n ta be polite. Comm'on up an make ya-selves at home!
Well now, what we got here. Xor yells back to the group.
Ow ya doin, the names Xor
Well! Ah'll be! With a broad smile Gwernach approaches Xor with an outstretched hand, Pleasure Master Xor! Names Gwernach Nickelbeard, at ya service. Tis been a long time since Ah've had chance ta speak ta 'broth'r! Tell me Xor, what news o'Holdandun?
What do you think of incorporating a traditional Dwarf greeting as a kind of fancy handshake with an optional headbutt (I think that move is copy right protected)?
Occasionally, there will be other opportunities to lay down some dwarven culture. If you think of anything, put it out there and I will try to play along with it :)
Diarmal picks himself up, brushing the dust off his pant leg and clearing his throat with a cough. Feeling more than a bit foolish, he approached the dwarven man with a smile and an open hand.
"My apologies, Gwernach. With how things have been in these lands, one cannot be too careful. May the light of Lady Aisling bless this auspicious meeting."
Greeting each in turn Gwernach gives M.A.R.V.I.N. a quizzical look but smiles at each all the same, Think noth'n offit lad, I'd aadon tha same.
Aye. Ah've been try'n ta meet up with ye ever since ya landed in Connie’s Bright some five nights past. With the mention of the town, Gwernach nods his head over his shoulder to the south in the direction of Connie's Bright. Looking past the dwarf, the town is clearly visible from the top of the hill he'd made camp on. Despite the rising sun, the view of the town seems odd. Where there should be billows of smoke from freshly lit hearths, there is nothing - no sign of life at all.
Am afraid ya efforts there were fa not. No soon'r had ya left than tha town was attack'd again. Twas those ten-ta-cal creatures, anna few oth'rs tha seem'd ta walk'on walls o'shadow...twas devastat'n. Gwernach looks to the ground and shakes his head. Looking up again he continues, Many villag'rs were kill'd tha night. Ah fought b'side tha Sheriff ov'r in tha Blue Roof Inn, Gwernach quickly makes a gesture over his chest with his hand as some sort of indication that the Sheriff is no longer with the living, A handful offus manag'd ta survive. Next morn'n most escap'd but Ah stay'd on till yesterday ta make sure. Tis noth'n left now. The dwarf scrunches up part of his face and snuffs hard to clear a nostril.
Ah've track'd those creatures inta tha moors ta tha west than lost 'em. Now Ah'm head'n north an a wee bit east ta tha next village. Thas where tha folks from Connie's Bright 'ave gone.
Marvin also climbs the hill but simply stands by. They keep a look-out, scanning the area they're heading to.
Towns been hit again eh...well ain't that a b%!#+, ere we wuz a trackin and killin the big beastie and those thingies a came back. Time to finish them off
Gwernach ponders Xor's words for a moment then frowns, Track'n ya own beasties ya say? Than tis more than one group o'them if they manag'd ta attack Connie's Bright in ya absence. Wha direction ya head'n now? Bending down, the dwarf takes a battered and blackened kettle off the fire and pours some steaming liquid into a cup. Deep purple in color a light layer of froth bubbles near the top. With the kettle still in his hand Gwernach plays host, Can Ah off'r ya some tea?
Weez a headin' that way, Marvin as some thinger ma bob thatsa leadin us
At Xor's mention of MARVIN's what-cha-ma-call-it Gwernach frowns then glances at the copper topped humanoid. Pointing a stubby thumb in the android's direction the dwarf turns back to Xor, Wha? Him? Gwernach curiously raises an eyebrow, Hmmmm, sounds int'arest'n. Mind if Ah tagga'long wit you lot?
Marvin nods to Gwernach when pointed at. "This unit reminds the group that, while he seems to be familliar with the area and adept at survival, we have no information about this person's background or motives."
Holding his arms open Gwernach chuckles, Ah've noth'n ta hide, ask wha'ya like. Less see if Ah can help narrow it down...
Ah hail from Holdandun where me Ma an Pa runna mine! We Nickelbeard's 'ave tha finest metals fa craft'n arms in all tha realm! The expression on the dwarf's face openly tells you his is quite proud of this fact. Ah came 'ere as part offa diplomatic envoy, escort'n a trade commission. Unfortunat-lay we were ambush'd. Knock'd out, Ah 'awoke ta find everyone dead 'cept me; sav'd by an ov'rturn'd wagon no less. Gwernach's admission illicits some reddening about his cheeks, Ah've sworn ta stay 'ere til me honor's ben restor'd, though Ah admit Ah havn't come up witha good plan ta do tha. Origina-lay Ah'd hop'd ta gleam a'bit o'news 'bout Holdandun fram ya, but now it seems help'n ya tis a step in tha right direction, lest where tha folks from Connie's Bright's concern'd.
Heza dwarf and that's good in my book
With a hint of a smile, Diarmal nods his agreement. Where Ribat had overturned his assumptions of frog-folk, Xor was every bit the dwarf he expected. He wondered if the same could be said for Gwernach, but held his tongue on that thought. "A terrible turn of events, it sounds."
Marvin nods in acceptance. "This unit will abide by the group's decision."