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rnd 3
Pegasus -
Captain - Dr. Buse - Encourage Drogo
Pilot - Sparks - move ship/evade
Engineer - Jord - Enhance sensors (fail)
Science Officer - Caldar - Target Lock (fail)
1st Gunner - Uli - Fire coilgun
2nd Gunner - Drogo - Fire light Laser cannon
Besmaran Whelp - dmg 29 ()
Uli peppers the space monster with coilgun inflicting heavy damage, this time ripping into the creatures core. Drogo encouraged by the Captain fires just at the right moment, but was accounting for the distance and the shot just misses.
The space monster barrels toward Pegasus, the heavy damage clearly pushing it to pursue its prey. It flies dangerously close extending out a claw as it draws near.
Rnd 4
Pegasus -
Captain - Dr. Buse -
Pilot - Sparks - move ship/evade
Engineer - Jord -
Science Officer - Caldar -
1st Gunner - Uli -
2nd Gunner - Drogo -
Besmaran Whelp - dmg 29 (Heart glitching)
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Jord thinks to himself: I wish this thing would just leave us alone! I thought we would have scared it off after dealing so much damage. Looks like there's no turning back now.
Out loud, he states calmly: Gunnery positions, attempting to divert auxiliary power to your systems.
Again, Jord's mechanical fingers key in the wrong information to the system. Seeing the error message on the screen, his face remains impassive, but his right hand slowly clenches in a tight fist of frustration. Through the comms, he simply states: Diversion unsuccessful, weapon systems remain nominal.
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Dogo doesn't like to admit that he's getting sweaty palms. That creature is sure big! If only I could target an area that didn't reflect the laser canon.
Attempting to think of an idea with my physical science mind.
Maybe I could target its eye or open maw? I wonder if those areas are still reflective?
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Rnd 4
Pegasus -
Captain - Dr. Buse - Encourage (unsuccessful)
Pilot - Sparks - move ship/evade
Engineer - Jord - Divert (unsuccessful)
Science Officer - Caldar - Target Lock for Uli
1st Gunner - Uli -
2nd Gunner - Drogo - fire light laser cannon
Besmaran Whelp - dmg 31 (Heart glitching)
The whelp flies near and tries to claw the Pegasus. But Sparks flying evades the attack. Who then flies the craft away from the assault. Dr. Buse tries to help Drogo but his instruction are fruitful. Drogo tries to spot a vulnerable spot, but finding none blasts away anyway, hitting the monster. Jord 1-2 tries to divert power into the weapons, but keys in the wrong info. While, Caldar locks onto the creature as Uli readies to fire.
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Sparks is very distraught when the whelp comes swooping in and tries to claw the Pegasus.
"Go eat something else, you oversized shark: we come in peace!"
Happy that the evasive maneuvers helped avoid the attack, Sparks keeps on trying to have the ship turn and twist as she pushes it to move away from the attacker.
She applauds as Uli's coilgun seems to knock pieces of the enemy apart.
"TAKE THAT!" Oh, but is this a First Contact..? Poor thing.
• rolling for Evade (to get +2 circumstance bonus to AC and TL until the start of the next round):
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Rnd 5
Pegasus -
Captain - Dr. Buse -
Pilot - Sparks - move ship/evade
Engineer - Jord -
Science Officer - Caldar -
1st Gunner - Uli -
2nd Gunner - Drogo -
Besmaran Whelp - dmg 38 (Heart malfuncioning)/evading
Uli blasts the whelp with the coilgun once more, the whelp is looking increasing damaged as traces of fluid leaking from it can be scene on the scanners. The beast seems to have had enough and begins to fly away into the dark of space.
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As he sees the whelp turn to flee, Jord thinks to himself: I wonder if these creatures are valuable? That crystalline skin seems to be worth something.
- to identify if creature has value (skin, heart, etc)
The whelp is retreating. I will attempt to boost the engines for pursuit.
With a satisfying hum, the engines growl to life as excess energy is poured into them. A very faint smile turns up the corner of Jord's mouth, but his voice remains impassive as he states: Engines to maximum.
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Jord turns his head to stare blankly at the small Ysoki. Dryly he says: That is not advisable. They live to feed, not to initiate conversations. He turns his gaze back to his engineering screen and continues via the comms: It appears we have defeated it, engines are primed, but we can stand down if all are in agreement.
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With the Besmaran whelp driven off you are free to approach the planet.
As you try to lock onto the abandoned outpost's coordinates, a major dangerous electrical storm interferes with the ship’s sensors. The
storm’s erratic movements and intensity make it too dangerous to attempt to land at the outpost. However, the storm seems to not be effecting a site several miles away, you are able to land there and then attempt to approach the outpost on foot.
You land the ship on the temperate grasslands and sensors confirm the gravity and atmosphere are normal. Beginnning your overland trek toward the outpost, you travel less than a mile when you come across a small village on the grasslands. From a distance you count perhaps 30-40 buildings of varying sizes, they seem to be made of densely packed mud. Humanoid forms can be seen moving between the buildings.
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Hearing confirm that this might be First Contact situation gets Sparks all excited.
She once again weaves her little paws in the air mumbling words to a spell, creating a small flimsy explorer's leather helmet with goggles,that she puts on - it being her only gear... before it disappears after an hour or so.
"Maybe we can name them Sparksians?!"
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Drogo attempts to give a friendly wave as well, emulating Uli's action.
Not sure how friendly we look to these people, but put your best foot forward as they say....
Sparks', have you met many people groups for the first time? Not sure the best protocol. My people have always led off with explosions and I'm trying a new way. Hand shake, fist bump, head nod, a friendly smile!
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You begin to approach and wave. Before you reach the village, you spot two of the locals a little ways outside the settlement, they seem to be throwing then chasing after a cylindrical object. The locals are tall and thin, with blue scaly skin and a multitude of black and white horns protruding from various parts of their heads. The horns seemed to be adorned with rings and chains. The are dressed in rudimentary loose fitting clothing in brown, grey, and blue. And don't seem to carry any weapons or at least none that you can see.
They spot you as well and begin to wave back, leaping high into the air as they do so. They look you over carefully when you approach and attempt to speak in a hearty dark but unintelligible languages, the Tetrad-certified translator clicks and beeps as they speak.
Arwassea therb trat storb. One says, it's like nothing you have ever heard.
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Sparks looks at Drogo: "Oh, yes, I have met many people, many groups... my family sold scrap metal from our grav-barges on Akiton. So we'd try to find new people to sell to. So I am experienced in this... however, it is the first time I have left Akiton, really."
Trying to emulate the blue-lizard-folk, Sparks jumps "high" into the air, as they do.
She then starts to cast a spell... but doing so slowly, and visibly, to see if it makes them wary.
If it does, she will stop immediately.
If they do not react, and she can go to the end of the spell, she casts Token Spell, and picks up and illuminates a stone or some such object that is lying around.
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Jord impassively remains in the back, motionless other than his eyes moving between his companion's "antics" and the aliens. His only facial expression is his cocked eyebrow.
He murmurs: I am not what you expect to get from these aliens. It does not appear that they could have anything to do with our mission, but I will attempt a parley with them.
Having nothing better to do, he walks over to the 2 chasing the cylinder. If there doesn't appear to be a threat anywhere, he will shoulder his rifle. Is this some form of game or sport? Perhaps they will let me join them. I really don't understand organics, but it seems like this is what we are supposed to do.. Jord attempts to mime his intentions to play with them after observing how the game seems to be working. Speaking overly slow and enunciating somewhat absurdly:
Greetings alien creatures. I am designated Jord 1-2. How are you designated? What is this entertaining activity that you are engaged in? May I also participate so that we can begin diplomatic relations?
- to determine how to play
- to mime his intention to play
- to try and play the game
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Caldar reaches out with his telepathy and can tell the locals are excited by the speed of there thoughts, but can't make out anything they are thinking. They look on somewhat curiously as he tries to communicate as if they don't really understand what is happening. His science knowledge tells him that while they seem to share some characteristics of vesks, they don't really seem to be related to Drogo's people, rather they resemble any number of draconic races occasionally seen around the Pact Worlds. By there appearance and activity he deduces they are likely younger members of the species, but would need to see more of them to say for sure.
They watch as the yoski attempts to jump up with interest, and then get even more interested when he illuminates a rock. To which Uli begins to say stone. After a couple attempts one of them gets it Stone it says pointing to the stone. It then points back at the stone and say Furb, Furb and waits for Uli to reply he's distracted by Jord.
As Jord speaks, the locals stare at him trying to understand. When Jord picks up the cylinder and throws it, the other draconic local understands that and and chases it down, and then toss it back to Jord. It lets out a funny laugh that sounds a bit like a snort.
The first local then points toward the village and says therb, then points to Uli and then points in the direction you just came and says therb again.
The translator clicks away processing information. As the screen clearly displays Stone=Furb. You feel hopeful, that in a few minutes, it will be able to speak some simple phrases in the locals language.
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"Furb, furb!" Sparks says as she hands the stone - that she enchanted to shed light - to the local lizard man.
Jumping up and down, she then sees if she can join the game of tossing the cylinder and retrieving it... trying to have a good look at the cylinder: is it something special?
"So, Uli, shall we go visit their therb? Maybe these new Sparksians can name it Ulitown?"
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'I know these things have meaning in their language. But it sounds infantile when mixed with ours,' Buse can't help griping to herself. As is her custom. 'I don't want to dignify the ysoki too much, but we should go to these beings' settlement. It's obviously already named something...no, stop, this is first contact.'
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A little time passes as you interact with the locals attempting to find common communication links and playing there game, Sparks takes a look at the cylinder and it looks to be made of a well-worn hide of some kind. They begin to encourage you to come to the village, with points and waves. And then the translator seems to have made the requisite links, one of them speaks to the other and the translator speaks Where did they come from?
You have reached the outskirts of the village and see a plethora of actives, that all come to sudden stop as you enter. Several children stare with mouth's agape. A circle of the locals seem to be making clothing, while another seems to be preparing food as large four legged hairy beast is being craved apart on a long table.
A very tall local rushes forward and speaks, the translator buzzes, Welcome, what are you? The draconic humanoid stands with its arms open.
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Having handed the cylinder back, Sparks follows all to the village.
Upon seeing the children, she bows to them, and then jumps up and down as high as her little frame can manage.
Looking at the clothes that the locals are making, Sparks smiles and points out the fact that she wears nothing but her white fur.
She then checks out what food is being made, to see if the beast has been cooked already, or if it is being prepared for the pot.
If it has already been cooked, and is being carved up for eating, Sparks will once again use the effects of the Token Spell she cast.
She will make some of the meat spicy, and see if any wish to taste it, and if they let her taste some.
When the very tall local rushes forward, Sparks looks up at the overgrown lizard, bows, and jumps and down as high as she can:
"I am an Ysoki, from the South-West reaches of Akiton, but I am also a proud member of the Wayfinders, and a new Starfinder member."
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Caldar introduces himself to the newcomer now that the translator is working.
Hello, my name is Caldar and I'm a Damaya Lashunta scholar from Castrovel, I enjoy meeting new cultures and learning from them.
He pulls out his transcriber, takes some notes on what he's seen so far, and hopes to learn some new things about these people.
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Jord walks away from the cylinder game mid-throw and joins the group as the translator begins to function. He looks around for anything technological. Seeing the primitive manner of the locals and their primitive village, he inwardly sighs and remains nearly motionless and utterly expressionless in the back. He thinks: I will wait for this to be over so we can move on to something useful. How am I to generate a comprehensive report by interacting with a pre-digital society?
- Looking for anything out of the ordinary or any signs of technology (hidden or otherwise).
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As Drogo and Jord 1-2 remain in the back observing, Jord looks for some signs of technology and while he doesn't spot anything advanced, he does spot signs that this culture is beginning to make some advances, he sees a few what appear to be self-propelling vehicles. And also several of the locals seem to wear early projectile weapons. Caldar likewise begins recording the first contact experience.
Sparks notes that this seems to be a butchering process and the cooking must be done at some later time. As some of the meat is processed locals carry it off to a small building that you assume must be a smoke house.
The locals talk to Uli about various sporting events and seem to describe a game with some sort of tiles. The translator struggles to provide the details they are revealing, but they seem eager to show off, as the translator several times mentions You try.
The tall local responds to Dr. Buse through the translator. Never met ones from the stars. Great Wawamba eats them. It's then that Dr. Buse also notices that many of the locals seem to wear what he would understand as bandages, originally appearing to be part of their apparel, upon closure inspection they seem to try to disguise some sort of seeping. He also notices many of the locals seem to be noticeably limping around.
Finally, the locals seem to reach the understanding that you are from the stars and this appears to interest them greatly. Several point to the sky and say something that the translator keeps translating Great Wawamba . One of the original youths you meet races off and returns a few minutes later with a book with a tanned hide cover. He opens it up, holding it open for you, and you very clearly see a depiction of something in the sky that looks remarkably like the Besmeran Whelp you encountered. He smiles Great Wawamba! The translator hums.
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Sparks jumps up and down, waving her arms: "We fly too fast for Great Wawamba! It did not eat us. We threw things at it. Hurt it. Great Wawamba fly away!"
Sparks points to the book, and strikes a pose, hinting that they can draw her in their book: "Sparks... S.P.A.R.K.S.".
Seeing the people Dr. Buse is looking at, Sparks asks: "Doc', you wanna check them out? See what ails them?"
Sparks is ready to second Dr. Buse in looking at the wounds, and the seeping.
She will see if they allow her to cast a spell upon them, first doing it on herself to show it is harmless.
If allowed, she would use Detect Affliction to try and understand what is harming these pour people.
"These are strange bodies you have. Are you cold blooded or what?! I can't make horny heads or scaly tails of how your systems work..."
• if allowed to cast Detect Affliction:
If the target is poisoned or diseased, you automatically detect that fact and can determine the exact type of poison or disease with a successful DC 20 Intelligence or Wisdom check. If you are trained in Life Science or Medicine (depending on the nature of the poison or disease), you can attempt a DC 20 check of that skill if you fail your Wisdom or Intelligence check.
So:
If the target is Cursed or suffering from a similar affliction, you must succeed at a DC 20 Intelligence or Wisdom check to determine that fact. You can then determine the exact nature of the Curse with a successful DC 25 Mysticism check.
If a separate roll is needed (otherwise just use the one above):
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The local people seem touched that you care about their affliction. The translator reveals the locals call it something similar Wasting away and they say about it Die in long time, but new.
Dr Buse and Sparks detect affliction spells reveal it is a disease, but the details elude them. Dr. Buse feels that while a healing channel may relieve some of the symptoms, it is unlikely to cure the people. You also begin to note that somewhere about half of the surrounding locals have some amount of the affliction.
The locals seem relieved by Sparks pronouncement that the Great Wawamba was only chased off. With help of the book and translator, the locals reveal that Wawamba was an wise elder and leader of there people for many years. When he died, the Besmeran Whelp appeared for the first time the next day. The people naturally assumed the wise Wawamba had received a enlightened reincarnation as Great Wawamba. And while they don't worship the Whelp as a god, they definitely venerate it as an ideal next state of being.
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Sparks scratches her little furry head: "Yes... err... we could see the Great Wawamba was... err... wise! The eyes. Yes, it had very wise eyes!"
And though she is not a great fibber, she has happy to not start panting or rolling her eyes.
Sparks tries to see if the people with the affliction seem to fall in any group: more young or old, male or female or some other lizard-sex, tall or short, or whatever...
"Where does Wasting Away come from, oh Lizard-people? Is it contagious? From some area?"
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Drogo peers off in the direction of the outpost and can see that the storm that forced them to land short still rages on in the distance, the outpost remains obscured.
The locals agree with Sparks about the wisdom of the Great Wawamba. She then observes that more of the older looking lizard people seem to be afflicted, but some young are and she can't see other discernible patterns.
They try there best to answer Spark's questions, Perhaps from the wooboaks or from the shivvar?