Looking to Tekumsah, {I agree, might be best if you head out first. Should we follow that sound we hear? Or check out the other passageways? Might as well check them in a circle till we find a way out. Start on the left, with the noise?}
Twitch let the other ysoki play charades with the dog-men, Good, keep them occupied.
Still naked but with a big stick to defend himself, he continued searching the room.
The yoski turned to the shirren, "Without knowing anything else, I would say let's leave that one for last. Let's explore one of the other rooms, one of the quiet ones."
----------
{Maybe you are right, strange noises are not always a good thing to move towards. Shall we check out the other passage ways? We could start on the right and move around, getting to the noisey one last.}
"Agreed, better to go to silent areas first. Find stuff there?"
Twitch made way for the vesk to lead the way, "Once I find Big Bertha, I'll lead if you want but not much of a fighter with this here club."
----------
Putting Tek ahead of himself, {Shall we head to the right then?}
They headed out in a silent, cautious group. The big Vex took the lead, being formidable even totally naked.
Their path took them right, heading away from the strange, repetitive noise and checking the corridors that seemed least threatening first.
The first one they came to led a short way to another closed door. The panel beside this one glowed red and was unresponsive to the touch. As far as the more technically minded members of the group could tell, without tools they couldn't do much about this. Possibly they could smash the door in? It didn't look,easy though. Whatever it was made from it wasn't steel, not was it plastic or timber.
Each corridor they approached in turn had the same problem. A sealed door, the panel beside it glowed red, indicating it was locked.
The elevator doors were in fact made from steel this time. The mechanism beside it looked far more traditional to the four captives. A buttoned keypad with a simple panel to display th numbers as they were pressed. The panel was flashing currently, all digest showing a zero. The door looked like it would be easier to force open than the other ones leading off from the corridors. It seemed as if it would slide upwards, so gripping from the bottom and heaving with the legs could probably do the trick.
Eventually all that was left was the corridor with the noise. It curved a little, cutting off the view from whatever was there.
Taking a look at the numbers that appear on the display. Do I recognize the language, or the culture that would have those digits?
Twitch just stated the obvious, "Yeah, some sort of elevator but we can't go around here naked and with a stick."
He looked at the big guy, "I think we should inspect the hallway/room where the noise is coming from. I would hate for something to come up behind us."
He turned around, "Speaking of that... where are the dog people?"
-----------
-5 to DC for rare
"Other doors MAY be more pods. Lets leave to last. NOT want to wake up Krillithaz"
"Dog people back in room. Lets go look at noise"
perception
Corridor 5 - at first no noise can be heard here, but then Tik'Yik catches the muffled sound of a single gunshot from within the room.
Corridor 3 - some type of struggle is clearly going on in this sounds of snarling and possibly casting of magics as some minor skirmish occurs behind the door.
Engineering The doors to the elevator seem much newer than the rest of this complex. Forcing them open using strength could well damage them beyond functioning.
Life science as bizarre as it ounds, the doors appear to be organic! Some form of dermal plating over a muscular system, probably run by nerves. That would certainly explain the pulse you felt when you pressed the button in you original room. Damaging those red and green panels could sever nerves to the doors themselves.
Corridor 2
This small curved corridor also ends with a door. This one appears to be undergoing some form of muscle spasm though. The iris continues to try and close, but only drops a few inches before retracting into the wall again.
Beyond the malfunctioning door, the group saw a room lined with shelves. These were filled with various items, seemingly boxed and tagged with some language they couldn't read. The most exciting part was that they could see their own gear here.
Oblivious to anything else in the room, the ysoki literally jumped for joy as he threw himself at the laser rifle in the shelf.
He lovingly rubbed his face on the gun, "Bertha, it's so good to see you again. I thought I had lost you for good like that time..."
Aware of the others watching him, he excused himself, "It's a long story, maybe some other time."
He then proceeded to get dressed and stuff his pockets and pouches with his belongings.
He took out four poker chips and gave them to Tek, "These are yours. I only took them to keep them safe in all the turmoil of the ship falling apart."
Finding his protective layer, Tuk'yik hastily puts on his second skin. Visibly relaxing after its secure on his torso/thorax. Only then grabbing his weapon and other items.
{Well, that is a [relief|happy|worry over]. I wonder if there is anything else in here. Are those strange Gnoll people's stuff in here too. Should we return it to them? They sure looked scared}
Looking around at the others going through their stuff, {I am a bit [worried|troubled|curious] about the sounds of struggle coming from the other doors. I wonder if there are more people like us stuck in there?}
Finding his protective layer, Tuk'yik hastily puts on his second skin. Visibly relaxing after its secure on his torso/thorax. Only then grabbing his weapon and other items.
{Well, that is a [relief|happy|worry over]. I wonder if there is anything else in here. Are those strange Gnoll people's stuff in here too. Should we return it to them? They sure looked scared}
Looking around at the others going through their stuff, {I am a bit [worried|troubled|curious] about the sounds of struggle coming from the other doors. I wonder if there are more people like us stuck in there?}
Twitch was busy dressing and arming himself to be much attention to Tuk, "Let's get our stuff first. When I was working deep underground and there was a problem, they always told us to get yourself safe first and then to help others. That's what I'm doing."
He inspected his hand-held rig to make sure everything was in order.
He looked at the shirren, "You ever been in an emergency?"
The ysoki's curious nature could not be denied and he inspected the rest of the gear lying around.
-----------
Looking over at Twitch {You know, I don't think I have. I tend to come in and [help|clean up|provide aid] after the emergency is over. Looks like y'all have a bit more experience. I am trying to just take it as Desna's way of providing me with an adventure}
To look for anything that could be owned by the dog/gnoll people. Tuk'yik feels it's important to return their items.
Aside from their own equipment, this room seemed to be a store for others as well.
Four suits of archaic looking second skin armour lay on one of the shelves, each tagged with a number. They were matched with older style cartridge loaded rifles and strange looking swords. These were steel, rather than tactical carbon fibre. Something not seen in the Golarion system since pre Gap technology. The suits of armour didn't look promising. They had no means for enabling environmental protection if a ship was voided or the halide vents ruptured. Why someone should bother with it was beyond the four of them.
Another shelf held a tactical Spear and some clothing for a tall humanoid, probably a woman by the style and colouring.
To the side of the shelving, a small glass container held a number of items that looked like they could be used for medical purposes. Bandages, small silver scissors and two gel packs that reminded them of medical serums from back home.
The sound of furtive movements and low growls drew their attention back to the room outside. It seemed the four Baghra had drawn courage from the general lack of immediate destruction. They had emerged from the pod room and were now sniffing the air and generally scanning the corridor intersection the party had just finished with.
Looking over at Twitch {You know, I don't think I have. I tend to come in and [help|clean up|provide aid] after the emergency is over. Looks like y'all have a bit more experience. I am trying to just take it as Desna's way of providing me with an adventure}
Twitch considered the question for a while, "Well, maybe traveling the red sands of Akiton with a whole bunch of ysokis tends to get you into some trouble."
He added quickly, "But it was fun. I miss my family sometimes."
"You ever think about home"
tag?
-----------
LOOT
The ysoki inspected the loot and thought of the naked dogmen in the other room.
He pocketed the two healing serums and asked, "Do you think we can trust them enough to allow them to get armed? I would feel a lot better if I cold talk to them, you know?"
--------------
Looking over at twitch, {Often! After moving around Akiton for so long, helping various towns after disasters or raids, I finally gathered enough money to charter this flight..[pause of sadness].. I mean the Desna's song. What I would give to see the red sands right now. How long have you been off planet?}
Looking at the Baghra's stuff, {I think it would be a good sign of faith to return their weapons, while not showing them any threatening postures. I am sure they are scared and would be grateful for the help. They seem a little more [simple|not advanced|technologically behind us]. It's not like we can use these} Tuk'yik grabs the scimitars. {Unless anyone has any major objections. I would like to return these to their proper owners. [Twitch|Trellik|Tek] Any objections?}
Trellik rapidly re-equips himself with his gear
"Feel a LOT better now. Ready to explore"
"Lets try deal with Bagrha. We give them weapons, armor if they agree follow us, fight for us. Let them think Tekumsah our leader. Look like they respect size more than guile"
With that, Trellik tries to pantomine exactly that to the Bagrha. He points to himself, he grovels at Tekumsahs feet. He then points to a weapon, pantomines offering it to Bagrha, then turns, pretends to accept weapon, again grovels at Tekumsah's feet
No clue what roll for that :-). Culture? Diplomacy?
With that, Trellik tries to pantomine exactly that to the Bagrha. He points to himself, he grovels at Tekumsahs feet. He then points to a weapon, pantomines offering it to Bagrha, then turns, pretends to accept weapon, again grovels at Tekumsah's feet
No clue what roll for that :-). Culture? Diplomacy?
Tuk'yik would like to assist with this.
The Baghra tensed when the fully equiped group emerged into the corridor again. Their ears perked at the equipment being offered and low,whines escaped,from their throats as they tried to determine what the little Ysoki was doing.
Stepping forward to the Baghra, trying to get a sense of their demeanor and helping Trellik via speaking tips to his mind.
To help get a clue if they are getting too frustrated, and when to back off if its going south fast.
Twitch nodded in agreement as everyone seemed keen to return the weapons to the dogmen. "It makes sense. We need friends to get out of here."
The ysoki then added his own pantomime and continued to speak in the different languages he knew to see if any of them were understood by the dogmen.
When asked why so many languages, the ysoki responded, "I traveled a lot and met lots of people, even if all my travel was confined to Akiton."
---------------
Looking over at twitch, {Often! After moving around Akiton for so long, helping various towns after disasters or raids, I finally gathered enough money to charter this flight..[pause of sadness].. I mean the Desna's song. What I would give to see the red sands right now. How long have you been off planet?}
Twitch checked his cheek pouches and found them strangely empty, "I... not long actually. I just wanted to see something other than Akiton. I took a traveling gig to Absalom Station and then boarded our ill-fated shuttle there."
He sounded sad, "I miss Akiton now."
He looked at the shirren, "So where on Akiton where you? have you heard of the Mardizzi Traveling Caravan?"
If allowed, would take 10 on both the culture and diplomacy rolls. If not allowed
In either case, unless they seem actively hostile
"Everybody fine with giving weapons? May make them friendly. We kill them if they attack us"
The negotiations go a little painfully, but eventually it seems the dog men understand the intent. They take a few moments to equip themselves and look over their gear, then hoist the rifles in their arms ready to follow the other four as needed.
They give the impression of nonchalance now they're armed. While following the group seems to work in their favour for now, they could just as easily drift off on their own at a future date.
Looking very pleased to have helped these creatures.
Looking over at Twitch, {I was born in Maro on Akiton. But I shortly after reaching [adulthood|past larval form] I traveled around the planet. I am terrible with names, but I did run into many Caravans on my journeys. Did you travel with them?}
{Well, my vote is to check in the hallway we heard that gunshot. Someone could be hurt in there. Now that we have our own protection. What do you 3 think? I would ask our friends, but I don't think I can}
"Yes, lets check out gunshot. One side may be friend. I go first"
Assuming party agrees, Trellik sets out a little ahead of the party, trying to stealth up on whatever is going on
Twitch nodded as he once more checked to see that Big Bertha was ready to party.
"C'mon, let's go see what's going on in there?"
Something inside his head whirred and beeped softly as the ysoki moved to follow Trellik.
With the group having some agreement, Tuk'yik follows close behind the two Yoski. While listening as closly to the language of the Dog Men. Following Trellik's lead and attempting to stay a bit quiet:
The group moved stealthily towards the rooms where they had heard gunshots. Trellik took the lead, with the others forming a smaller group behind the stealthy Ysoki.
Tekumsah stood towards the rear, keeping an eye on the Baghra as the dog men moved to follow the party.
Rounding the central elevator collumn, the small band came face to face with something completely unexpected.
A tall and brutishly strong human was just completing the strap placement on his armour suit, smiling with near giddy joy at his equipment. Next to him, looking rather sheepish was a beautiful woman, completlely naked in the flickering half light of the complex. Remnant gel from the pods still clung to her in places, and her auburn hair hung in dank matted strings from the goo. Despite this, she seemed almost angelic in her beauty.
A small gasp of surprise escaped her mouth as the group came upon them, and she dropped into a defensive stance as the armoured human stepped in front of her.
"Please, we mean you no harm!" she called urgently from behind the big man.
|
The armored warrior's bulk almost covers the naked woman entirely, and there was much bulk for the covering. To say he was big would be an understatement. The man rivals the size of the Vesk, bespeaking that at least some of humanity will not take second place to the other races when it comes to bloodlust.
"Well, she might not," the human states in a big, deep voice, as dire and booming as a war drum, the light glinting off his full-shell Iridishell armor as his empty hands flex and clutch, stating their irritation at not having something to do, or hit. "But I might mean a little."
He's not attacked yet, and seems to just be displaying a predictable amount of protection for the naked and vulnerable female behind him.
Suddenly coming up to two humans. Speaking everyone including humans {[Oh|surprise], hello! I don't believe we mean any harm. Did you find yourself in weird goo pods? If you did, we are in the same [boat|ship]}
Looking at the woman, {There is some human woman shaped [clothes|armor] back there} Gesturing back to the room with the items
Twitch raised his furry hands, well one hand actually while the other kept a hold of Bertha, "No, yes. I mean no, we mean you no harm."
His cyber eye* kept looking at the new humans while his AI kept feeding him information of his surroundings.
He nodded as Tuk explained, "Yeah, go try those clothes out. Maybe they are yours. We came out of some ponds on another room and we found our stuff."
Some more whirring and beeping inside his skill. With the memory fresh from the pantomime with the dognmen, he touched his chest, "I am Twitch. Who are you? And do you know where we are?"
Trellik raises his weapon but doesn't actually point it at the human
Hairless Ape. Check. Testosterone through roof. Check. Acting like idiot. Check. Think size make him tough. Check. Wonder when will have to kill him.
He whispers in Ysoki
Huwa agħar minn Bagra. Riħa aktar wisq
Out loud
"No need to fight. We prisoners here too. Where did you come from? What year was it when you taken?"
The woman sighs in relief at the mention of clothing. "Thankyou, I shall be far more useful with something more than just bare flesh to use"
Moving with grace and aplomb despite her nakedness, she disappeared into the storage room and emerged a moment later fully dressed and wielding the spear from the room. She carried the weapon with the comfortable grip of one used to such weapons.
Since none had yet introduced themselves, she took up a position near the rear of the group and nodded her readiness to follow. " Lead on then gentlemen, lets find out why we're here and who is responsible"
While she was speaking, the Baghra had begun sniffing the air and growled at each other in their strange language. They appeared agitated again, and dashed off in the direction of the room the two humans had emerged from.
Teksumah swore in his native tongue, and moved off to follow them " I'll watch 'em, you guys check that door with the gunshot!". He flexed his muscled frame, responding instinctively to the actions of the new human who had joined them. Then he strode after the dogmen to ensure they weren't about to cause more trouble for the group of survivors.
"Sorry. Rude of us. My name is Trellik.
You never said where you from. We were on starship heading to Absalom station. We from 317 After Gap"
She nodded her head in greeting and smiled. " Andretta, out of Sklarni. I don't know this time period you reference, but for me it was the year 212 synchronised. "
Looking to the new humans {Oh yes, sorry for the [rudeness|forgetfulness]. I am Tuk'yik. Greetings!}
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|
"Gratitude," the trooper rumbles as the woman goes to get kitted out.
While she is gone he eyes the Baghra warily. He had encountered such in brief engagements with the Eridani Light Horse, and had no love for them. It is with a mixture of regret and relief he watches them go. He had been about to kill them.
When she returns dressed, he has no hint of disappointment on his face--he had known women, and one naked woman more or less int he cosmos will not tip the balance.
"I am Gorn. Of the Steelbreaker clan."
He stares at the door, but has no ken of whatever sciencecraft is needed for it.
"I can punch it open, if we have no other option."
The ysoki's greeting had gone unobserved; humans would do that to the little folk but they soon learned.
Twitch once more said, "I am Twitch. From Akiton."
A curious looking metal sheathe on his forearm started to spin and a sort of combination tool/pick. The ysoki's AI directed the tool as Twitch's tail swung from side to side. "No need to break anything. I think. I should be able to open it."
-------------
Twitch went to work doing the thing he did best. As the tools hummed and buzzed in his hands, a small spark leapt across the red panel, triggereing an organic response in the door way.
Now that they knew the doors were organic, it was clear to see the muscular contractions beneath the dermal plating. The arperture spiralled open, like the iris of an immense eye coming to focus on those about to pass through the doorway.
Beyond the entrance was another room filled with stasis pods and smelling like the pungent sweetness of the nutrient gel. Another odour, more acrid and sharp to the nose, drifted out as the internal pressures equalised between the two rooms. It was the smell of discharged cartridges and the tang of burned flesh.
The source of the new aroma was immediately evident. In the centre of the room, stacked like cordwood, were a group of naked bodies. Each lay lifeless on the floor, their limbs arranged neatly to their sides and the heads lolling to the sides. A single round hole at the base of each of their skulls hinted at the cause of death.
Standing to either side of the corpses stood two bipedal creatures. Their flesh was a pale green, overlayed by heavy bone plates that added a sharp line to their profiles. Pale eyes glowed slightly in the dimly lit room as their heads swung towards the opening door. Each of them held a rifle of sorts, seemingly crafted from the same bony material that covered their bodies and apparently grafted to their right arm.
Smoke spiralled lazily upwards from the barrel of one of these weapons, evidence of its recent discharge.
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|
Gorn searched his relatively limited experience to see if Andretta's planet of Sklarni means anything to him.
But no amount of thought made any connection with it.
Gorn swiveled his great head in the direction of the small Ysoki that had said his name a second time, the overlapping plates of his heavy armor grinding against each other lightly.
"I have said gratitude."
Perplexed, Gorn ran through what he had learned of the Ysoki during his time with the Eridani.
'Small. Good scouts. Competent at tech. Talkative.'
This last one rankled at the base of his skull and seemed to be the key to the current incongruity.
"Apologies," he rumbled, his voice like two great boulders crushing each other to dust. "My time in the Eridani mercenary group has me terse, a symptom of efficiency. I see you Twitch from Akiton. And you, Tuk'yik. And you, Trellik."
To each of the newcomers he brings his closed right fist to his chest and extends it out to the named person.
As the group passes the other stasis pods in the new room, Gorn muses, "If any are not opened, then we will not starve. I could break open pods as needed, and we can consume the gel. I have found it flavorful."
He's apprehensive as they encounter the scents of death, and his battle heart rises. Already on edge from being taken, he vows that if he dies here, it shall not be from a lack of courage on his part.
When at last they see the literally smoking gun, he can take it no more. He CHARGES at the pale green creatures, roaring a battle cry.
"Cowardly murderers! DIE as you DESERVE TO!"
He raises his right fist as he travels like a missile toward the armed pair.