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To Kitkul, one of the cameraghouls just chuckles a bit. "Eox welcomes anyone who wants to come by. Some ports have air-filled structures and mini-cities, but definitely wear a suit if you're going to wander the countryside!"
He quickly shuts up, though, as Wazasha gives a countdown using her fingers: 3...2...1... action!
The heavy metal hatch opens, and followed closely by the camera crew, you descend into dark, rocky tunnels. As you explore...
Continuing to travel, urged with hand gestures from behind the camera from Wazasha to share whatever you learn, you come across a midden...containing both refuse and excrement.
What would you like to say or do before proceeding?
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Kitkul steps in near the front of the group, though realizing at the last moment that its eyes are not the best for looking around in the dark. With that its blue white mote forms into a large solar mace in its left hand. Not looking at much except the dim reaches of the location, Kitkul lets the others look at the sciencey stuff.
In its very bug like tones...."One senses no hostile forces. One will Proceedg down the hallway unless others want to look at something.". With that Kitkul keeps an eye and antenna out for any creature coming up upon the more scientific minded of the group.
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Gab raises his hand, which begins to glow, illuminating the path in front of him. He makes sure to illuminate the damaged robots and defaced signs long enough that the camera crew can get shots of them.
He points at one of the broken robots. "These are similar to the worker drones we have in the Pact Worlds, but definitely a unique design." He glances around at the team. "Anyone seen this style before?"
Not waiting for an answer, he shines his hand toward the wall. "This rock looks like it has been damaged, maybe by large gravitational forces. We'll have to keep our eyes open for what is causing that."
Gab shakes his head, clearly trying to keep his distance from the poop. "Sometimes you run into nasty stuff out in the Vast." He casts his light upon the exploded remains of a weapon of some kind. "Goblin junklaser ... covered in goblin piss." He looks toward the camera and says, with comedic gravitas, "Charming." He says louder, to the group, "Keep your eyes open for a nest of the nasties."
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Just as you're wrapping up your initial examination of the disgusting (but potentially informative) site, a large shakes the walls and ground beneath your feet, the sound echoing down the corridors ahead of you in the direction the goblin tracks head off to!
The camera crew quickly and professionally fans out to record each of your reactions!
How do you react? What do you do next?!
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With the glowing mace in its left hand, Kitkul uses its right to pull out a laser pistol. Moving quickly to the junction of the wall of the room to the corridor ahead of us--where its allies said was the direction of the goblin tracks--it puts its back against the wall, looking back to see what its allies are doing.
After seeing what everybody doing to get prepared, Kitkul pokes its head into the hallway, along with its right hand with the laser pistol. Using its blindsense to see if it can sense anything past where the light of its mace illuminates, it hopes to determine what happened.
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As you arm yourselves and cautiously advance on the source of the noise, the few lights that were present completely go out. While the camera crew can obviously see in the dark, their cameras can't. They all flip switches on their gear, causing bright light to be shed in a 30 foot radius around you (normal light 30 feet beyond that)!
Ssslusssk's sssenses help you navigate the rubble without any dangers, depositing you at the edge of a large chamber that looks like it was the location of the recent explosive event! Debris is everywhere aroud this roughly circular space, with large portions of the cave having collapsed . A deep pit has also opened near where you enter , and a massive pile of rock and rebar sits in a twisted circle in the center of the area ). Low walls still stand, just barely tall enough to provide partial cover - you can hop over them as easily as if you were moving through a square of difficult terrain.
A team of Space Goblin zaperators sifts through the wreckage. With them is a strange creature that resembles a large six-legged armadillo with compound eyes, iridescent banded armor plates, heavy digging claws, and a pair of rasping tongues. Your camera crew rapidly spreads out to get angles on the scene before you and also your reactions! The goblins see the lights and draw their weapons!
Mysticism (Recall Knowledge) Checks:
The greater the light level in the area, the stronger defense a spicodranth has against electricty and fire attacks. Also, this particular spicodranth looks like it's been abused by the goblins and would normally run away from a fight, but seems to be following their commands.
If a fire- or electricity-based attack misses a spicodranth, they can reactively absorb some of that energy and redirect it at its attackers, potentially blinding them temporarily!
Reacting first, the Blue Goblin rushes forward, yelling something at the six-legged creature, and firing its at Kitkul!
vs. EAC
ROUND 1
Kitkul
Salamander
Cyan Goblin
Yellow Goblin
Gab
Deloran
Ssslusssk
Rahdokama
Camera Crews
Unknown Creature
ROUND 2
Blue Goblin
Kitkul and Salamander are up!
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3..2..1..Action!
Not being very science-y or skill-smart, Rahdokama takes lead of the group by trying to talk them up on their findings. "Now team! You've all been briefed! Let's roll out and explore! Stay in a tight group, we won't know what we might find in the darkness! Arrghhhh!"
He comments on his teams findings as they search around - "Great find Gab. Agghhhh, these worker drones must of been here for a reason, lets get to the bottom of this!"
Rahdokama is genuinely surprised at Deloran's findings - "Aggghhh, we don't have many space goblins back around the Veskarium Empire. We scared most of them away, and the rest that remain...well, they aren't so small...". The green vesk pats the smaller human on the back.
EXPLOSION!
Standing straight as if nothing happened, the vesk draws his adorned tactical pike and points it in the direction of the explosion - "Goblins indeed, my friend. Gggrrr, i havn't seen one in decades. Can't wait to see how my steel feels against their small heads - AGHHHHHHH!"
As he starts moving towards the sound, "Stay close, who knows what sort of shinannigins they must be up to." Turning to the cameras he smiles, "Now, shall we go find some space goblins and see what they are up to? Agghhhhh!"
Combat
As they move even closer untill they see the goblins, Rahdokhama's excitment turns to awkwardness as his weapon slumbs in his grasp and all he can utter is - "Oh? That's all? Did anyone know they were that small? I mean seriously. Agghhhhh..."
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Kitkul has no idea about the strange armadillo creature, just figures it has to be goblin related....
With that, it's solar weapon, a glowing blue white mace seems to put out a little more light...and the glow seems to slightly surround Kitkul.
It looks over at the distance between it and the blue goblin and moves forward...and as it does, the glow around its body seems to pulse.
to hit
damage
"See how YOU likes the taste of one's power of the blue sun," Kitkul says as it swings its mace into the goblins torso.
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Kitkul dashes forward at a not-insignificant fraction of the speed of light and with a single mighty swing, drops the Blue goblin to the ground, dead!
Salamander rapidly advances to where the goblin once made its stand and makes ready to fend off any other Goblins that approach !
Yelping in surprise at the force of your team's onslaught, the Cyan Goblin fires its junklaser in a full attack at the Vesk and the formian!
vs. EAC
vs. EAC
ROUND 1
Gab
Deloran
Ssslusssk
Rahdokama
Camera Crews
Unknown Creature
ROUND 2
Blue Goblin
Kitkul
Salamander
Cyan Goblin
Yellow Goblin
Gab, Deloran, Ssslusssk, and Rahdokama are up!
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Gab begins moving. "Gotta say, these minimal speed suspensions were definitely worth the credits ..." he says casually, then shouts, "Fire in the hole!" as he hurls a frag grenade toward the two remaining goblins. He offers a casual, devil-may-care glance toward the cameras as he releases the grenade.
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Deloran, Ssslusssk, and Rahdokama all rush forward, while Gab makes a more impressive throw with his grenade than he realized!
The Cyan space goblin is grievously wounded by the grenade, but the Yellow one manages to avoid the worst of the shrapnel!
The camera crews surge forward to new positions close to the action, their lights reflecting brightly of of Rahdokama, Ssslusssk, Deloran, and Gab's armor!
The Spicodranth responds to the goblins yelling at it by lashing out with a claw at the closest non-goblin - Salamander!
vs. KAC
ROUND 2
Blue Goblin
Kitkul
Salamander
Cyan Goblin
Yellow Goblin
Gab
Deloran
Ssslusssk
Rahdokama
Camera Crews
Spicodranth
ROUND 3
Kitkul and Salamander are up!
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Heedless of the danger, Kitkul moves past the blue goblin. It ignores the fact that it will likely try to hit it. Then it charges forward, glowing blue flames seem to lick off its body. It then bull rushes into the yellow goblin. As it does the blue flames seem to explode towards the goblin!
to hit KAC +8.
damage.
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Salamander lurches as the claws rip through his light armor, but manages to remain upright. He wants to make a retaliatory strike against the Spicodranth but the idea that it may not actually be a threat still lingers in the back of his mind. Instead he takes a guarded step back and goes into a total defense hoping the others can finish of the goblins and maybe calm the Spinodranth down.
"No reason to kill something that may not need killing."
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Even if this combat weren't being televised, Salamander's decision almost seems scripted. Almost before the Yellow goblin's body hits the ground and Salamander takes a guarded stance, the sole remaining (heavily bleeding) space goblin throws his dogslicer and unstable junklaser to the ground, eeking out; "Ack! Um...Me give up!"
Seeing the goblin drop his weapons, the Spicodranth also recoils from the combatants a bit, Ssslusssk's intuition proving correct as well!
Unless you wish to press hostilities, you are now out of combat!
The Spicodranth is growling a bit at all of you, but isn't attacking at the moment, while the goblin stands there, both arms raised in a "hands up" pose, made ridiculous due to the size of the glass helmet his green appendages have to reach past.
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Deloran Starrunner leaps over the small wall and heads over to the strange beast.
Holding his left hand out with just his pinkie, index finger and thumb out pointing at the beast. Deloran trys to make friends with the creature. If the creature is responding, Deloran will move closer to it and place his hand on the creature's head giving it a little scratch if the creature allows.
"There we go big guy, we are all friends here. Yes your just be big softy arn't you, yes you are. You want to come with us well take good care of you, yes we will."
Speaking to it like a stray loving dog.
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Deloran approaches the brightly glowing creature, extending a hand even as the goblin looks over and says, "That no work. Only do what say if hit it with flat side of slicer or butt of gun. ...Hehe, me say butt on TV!" The goblin is suddenly distracted by the lights and cameras capturing every single moment.
Ignoring the attempt at discouragement, the Spicodranth responds to Deloran's kindness, and after only a couple of seconds, it's letting him pet its iridescent shell, and is nuzzling his hand!
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Gab steps up next to Salamander. "Nice job, Sal. Barely a scratch on ya ..."
He turns his attention to the goblin. "Okay, buddy, we're not here to kill you for laughs. We're here on a very important mission, and we need your help. You help us, and maybe we can work out a deal to your benefit. If not, I am sure Sal will be happy to finish you off with the others. Killing goblins is kind of a hobby of his."
"So, more of your buddies around here? What are we going to find as we go into this rock?"
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Kitkul looks between the goblin and the spicodranth, then decides to walk toward the goblin. Its glowing blue-white mace is still in its hands.
Lightly tapping the mace on the goblins fishbowl of a helmet--making it ring like a bell--Kitkul says,"You might want to rethink your comment about things only listening to what you say if you hit them with the flat side of a weapon. This one could hit you over the side of the head with its mace....maybe that will make you more likely to talk...."
"So....maybe you should spill your guts and tell us everything about why you and those others," Kitkul says as it points its mace at the other dead goblins, "are here, and what you know about the area."
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“Is that really how we are going to deal with these goblins! They have surrendered! It’s unprofesional to threaten a defenceless creature. What are we, savages! Aghhhh!”
Rahdokama puts his weapons away and gets down next to the goblin. His crouched form still towering over his little body, but tries to make himself less menacing, he manages a smile. He pats the little guy over the head. “My kin used to eat you for breakfast when we had a goblin problem on Vesk V. But that was before my time. Never seen one up close before. Do you have kore friends around here, or are my not so polite friends going to have to do some not so polite things to you too...?”
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Each of the three goblins carried a tattered flight suit, a dogslicer, and an unstable junklaser with 1 battery (20 charges).
The goblin starts turning his head rapidly back and forth between Kitkul, Rahdokama, and Gab; and each of their different approaches. Finally, after a few moments, he takes off his glass spacesuit helmet and vomits into it! No perception check is needed to hear the "ewwww!" sound the audience is making through Wazasha's earpiece when that happens!
A moment later, the goblin proudly takes a step towards Kitkul and offers her the helmet!
"Me spill guts! Name Satchel, because me carry all satchel charges for Spooler and Splicer before big boom collapse ceiling on them and rest of team except Soder and Snicker before you come and crush both to pulp!" His head nods in the direction of the goblins you killed.
"We express...er...lorey..explore...tory team 'S' for Exhaust Drinker tribe! We find lots of scrap all over moon but this area above never touched. Means many good loot there! Rest of team with BigGeniusPolbak doing digging from other side! No other exhaust drinkers in radio range, or else we probably get yelled at from BigGenius for using too much sticky explodey!"
When the goblin points up, you can see that the explosion they clearly were responsible for setting off has blown a hole in the ceiling. The twisted rebar and slabs of metal create a place where you could probably climb up to a large chamber above.
Wazasha approaches you all, turning her headset to project Zo!'s voice to all of you. "What a stunning first combat! What speed, ferocity, and unexpected compassion our Starfinders brought to bear on the space goblins! We're going to take a short commercial break, but make sure you vote in tonight's first audience-choice poll on your comm units now! We'll be back to Live Exploration Extreme! after a few words from our sponsors!"
Your ghastly producer smiles at you. "Wonderfully done my dears. 87% of the audience projected heart emojis to the show's infosphere page, and specifically to Deloran's headshot on there when you calmed the animal down. As such, Zo! instructed me to have one of our production crew lead it back to the shuttle bay so it can be rescued. We might even get a whole web-series about it's growth and progress after being liberated from the goblins! We will, naturally, let your votes on its name carry a bit more weight than the live audience, if you think of a good one!"
"The audience is voting right now on what to do with your unexpected captive here. We'll have a few minutes before the voting and commercial break are done, so this is a perfect time for one of you to join me in 'the bubble' for a quick interview!"
She turns to grin at Salamander. "Agent Vossk, the audience has been talking about you quite a bit, even more so after your decision to hold back at the end of the fight! Would you care to step into my parlor?" With a snap of her fingers, the large robot carrying the production equipment approaches and lays a spherical device on the ground, then unspools a cable from its midsection and sends power into it. The sphere rapidly expands to form a "bubble" in the chamber, with a holographic mirror-sheen on the outside to prevent anyone from looking or hearing what goes on inside. Wazasha pulls back the "curtain" to reveal two chairs and hover-camera-drones with lights on them waiting. "This way I can interview each of you during our show, and we'll intermix the action with your comments when we broadcast to the Pact Worlds in a few days! Come, let's get started!" Assuming Salamander doesn't reject, she'll gently take his arm and lead him inside.
"Our audience has many conflicting thoughts about you so far, Salamander. You're clearly confident about yourself in and out of battle, but you also hold yourself back. Why is that? Some in our audience also want to know more about this compassionate side of you that you showed in not attacking the spicodranth in your last encounter - can you tell me what was going through your mind when you decided to step back?"
"A full half of your team today are vesk. Who do you think is the strongest of the three of you? Who do you think makes for a better Starfinder agent? Why do you think so many vesk choose to leave the Veskarium and join the Starfinders?"
"Now a few general questions we'll air near the end of the show: What's the best thing about being a Starfinder? On the flip-side, what about being a Starfinder makes you mad? And lastly, is there anything stressful going on between you and your fellow agents? If so, this is a great chance for you to get that off your chest!"
Wazasha and Salamander exit the bubble a few minutes after entering it, and the crew has re-assembled out of your way as Wazasha stands before you, looking between her wrist-computer and the cameras. "Welcome back to Live Exploration Extreme!, where our first audience vote has just concluded!
7% of our audience voted to execute the goblin.
13% voted to put the goblin on a leash and force it to behave like a dog to teach it a lesson about how it treated the spicodranth.
22% voted to let the goblin go free with a new helmet.
But the winning option - 58% of our Live Exploration Extreme! audience wants you to take the goblin with you as a Starfinder mascot!"
She grins, lookig up from her computer and stepping out of frame for the camera ghouls to zoom in on each of you individually for your reactions. "So, Starfinders...what will you decide?!"
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Gab watches, eyes wide, as the goblin vomits into the helmet. Then he breaks out laughing. "Spill your guts ... Well, at least we know he can take an order."
During the break, he loots the corpses of the goblins and scouts the surrounding area for anything else, since this area has not previously been scavenged by goblins.
With great difficulty, Gab holds himself together as Ssslusssk puts the helmet back on Satchel's head. "What do you say, Satchel? Care to join us for an adventure."
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"One didn't think you would take its order quite literally...but oh well."
Kitkul will catch Ssslusssk before putting the helmet back on the goblin. "Maybe it is better to at least clean it out before putting it back on its head." Kitkul will take the helmet from Ssslusssk, and dump out the helmet. Taking a bit of its water from its canteen, will attempt to swirl out most of the vomit the best it can. Then will put the helmet back into the goblins hands.
Kitkul will also watch in amazement as the goblin is able to put a fishbowl helmet on that is barely bigger than its head, but has a small neck connection....and is just amazed at the folding of space itself that it can do that.
"Satchel, why were you, Spool and Splicer attempting to blow a big hole into the area? Were you trying to get to somewhere. Or was BigGeniousPolbak wanting something set up to hurt others?"
Kitkul looks over at Wazasha with its bug eyes, when she says most people want the goblin as a mascot. "One is not certain that executing a helpless creature is the best idea. Though having Satchel being lead around like a dog would show him the error of his ways, one does not want to waste time. If it wants to become a mascot it is fine to do so. Though one wonders why it would want to be a mascot?" With that question, Kitkul looks towards Satchel.
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Salamander steps into the bubble and shyly waves at the camera. All is well while Wazasha asks her questions until she asks about Vesk leaving the Veskarium where he suddenly goes rigid.
"Well, uh, you see, uh, Almost like a switch Salamander suddenly finds his stride and starts talking directly to the camera "you can't surrender yourself to the bloodlust of combat when you're working with a team. The Starfinders do an excellent job of promoting the idea of cooperation, cooperation between species, teams, and individuals. With this cooperation comes trust, so you have to trust your team members and they have to trust you. And I guess to answer you question, I held back because I trusted that Ssslusssk was correct in surmising that the little creature would yield if the goblins were dispatched. I trusted that if it continued to attack, my team mates would have my back in dispatching it. Also, I didn't really want to kill the poor thing. Which leads into your other questions.
I'll leave the contest of strength to Rahdokama and Ssslusssk to figure out who is the strongest between the two, but I can tell you for a fact that it isn't me. Most of my kin are mighty warriors and built like powered-armor, but for myself I never really grew into our inherent strength. I'm stronger than your average human for certain, but I'm more lithe than my brothers. As for why Vesk leave the Veskarium, I can only tell you my story. I left because I was tired of the wanton violence. Everything is about strength and the glory of combat, but seldom do my kin think if violence is the most tactical choice. As crazy as it sounds to some people, sometimes you need to talk instead of shoot first and ask questions later. I think that's why the Starfinder lend themselves to me, because they are often asking questions before the violence begins.
I'll say that the best part of being a Starfinder is the travel. You can travel the galaxy at the Starfinder's expense and meet all sorts of new and interesting creatures. However, the flip side of that is that a lot of those creatures want to kill you!"
Salamander intentionally avoids the last question, knowing that starting any drama between the group may result in total group cohesion going down.
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Rahdokama is going to take the helmet of the smaller goblin and put it on his own head. At the same time, he will seat the goblin on his shoulders.
“Okay there buddy. Take us to the loot, or your big boss leader. You can use your helmet to drum a bear on my head. I’d like the massage. What do you say team, shall we continue?”
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In response to Kitkul's washing, the goblin looks around for water to use to help, but not finding any, he tries to spit into the helmet! "Adding more water!" is all he'll say if his activities are questioned. "BigGeniusPolbak say stupid cave-men sitting on fidgit...able..figure...itterive? Well, cave-men sitting on some kind of 'gold mine' of non-gold metal (weird that BigGenius say gold if not gold) useful in ships and worth many credits, and we almost out of exhaust to drink, so we break into teams and try to blast into places where might be more metal!" Satchel excitedly points up towards where the rebar "ladder" of sorts goes.
After Kitkul and Gab make inquiries, a light of realization crosses the little green menace's face. "Mask...ought? Wait...you mean Satchel getting added to your tribe? Yes!!! You big and strong, better than exhaust drinkers! Satchel join and help! Add neckti...er...tektite... ah, right! Technical skills to aid big combat lizards!"
When Rahdokama helps Satchel with his gear, the goblin is obviously excited to ride on the vesk's shoulders. "Yee haw! Little green rides on big green, like thing BigGenius tell us about...liguini...er...ziti...er...ravioli western movie!" The goblin holds its fingers out like guns, then gets momentarily sad as he realizes his weapons are elsewhere, but then hears the rest of Rahdokama's words and starts bouncing a bit as he begins training himself to be a professional bongo player.
Inside the bubble, Wazasha smiles graciously at Salamander's answers. "Thank you so much, Agent Vossk. Let's get back to the action now, shall we?" she asks into the nearest camera, followed by pressing a button on her computer to have the hexapodal robot break the bubble back down into carry mode.
The camera crew fans out around the opening that rests above the twisted heap of metal, obviously waiting to watch your ascent. To advance, you can make an Athletics check to climb the 20 feet or so it takes to get past, or you can use any other means you might have at your disposal. You can make multiple checks if you want to assist your teammates and mascot, as well. During all of this, you are acutely aware that the cameras are still rolling!
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He glances around at the warriors and says, "The operative and I are probably a bit quieter than you guys. How 'bout we scout out up there as best we can, and then you follow us up?" He then moves to climb up into the revealed area.
He deftly scampers up the twisted heap of metal, getting to the top while making hardly a sound and peeks around as best he can to get a look of the surrounding area.
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"Satchel, you say 'Cave men'...what do you mean exactly? People like Deloran? Also, BigGeniusPolbak sounds pretty smart, though probably not as smart as you are Satchel. Is he also a goblin, or something else?'
Kitkul knows its jump jets can do this, though it thinks it is not the best idea, it wants to be a little flashy. It activates it jump jets and uses it to go 20' straight up.
to grab the lip of the ledge and pull itself up.
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Satchel grins widely (somewhat scarily, in fact) when Kitkul praises him. "Oh yes, BigGenius is big goblin with four arms! ...Well, 3 arms last time me see him... or was it five?" The space goblin lapses into some sort of a fugue trying to count on his fingers and toes, always having to re-start when he realizes (then immediately forgets) that he can't count his toes inside his boots. Whether or not he'll take his boots off while riding on Rahdokama's shoulders remains to be seen.
The region beyond is a large cavern that sparkles with phosphorescent fungi whose caps span as much as 10 feet in diameter. The goblins’ explosion from below has buckled the cavern floor here, leaving a concentric impression in the ground where there appears to have just been unaffected stone before. These buckled rings are about 1 foot high, and stepping across one costs 1 extra square of movement .
As you emerge, you see that you are not alone. Three figures step out of the fungal areas to the west (left) of you, their leader a fierce-looking woman who carries a massive great-axe in her hands. The two men behind her have mining picks on their backs and crossbows made of wood and metal in their hands. All three wear heavy plate armor that looks like something out of a renaissance faire - it almost looks like it's been forged by hand!
After a moment to take your sudden appearance in, the leader begins to speak, but it is clearly not a language any of you understand.
She tries another language, also one none of you know, but to a few of you it might sound slightly familiar.
With a sigh, she starts talking in another tongue...and as luck would have it...
Wazasha reaches the top as well and starts directing the camera ghouls to fan out to get better angles on the potential confrontation that might ensue.
What do you do, Starfinders?
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"These are dwarves, almost as if they came from a pre-space culture or a Society of Creative Anachronism event. I can not understand their language, but they do seem semi-hostile. Gab, Deloran, anybody...can any of you understand them, and if so, are they being hostile? If you can understand them and they are hostile, nod your head yes, if you can understand them and they are not hostile nod your head no. If you can't understand them--like me--just be stoic and hopefully we can get out of this without a fight."
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Gab, with his speed augmentation moves quickly ahead into the area. He says into his comms, "They're speaking Draconic. They're willing to talk. They're twitchy about the undead, so stay back ... I got this ... Lucy, Sweet Talk protocol."
Immediately after he says this, another voice comes over your comms. "Hello, I am Lucy, Gab's AI assistant. He has initiated the Sweet Talk protocol. A component of this is for me to alert you, his colleagues, that he is attempting to win over those you have just encountered with non-violent means. In addition, he will be drawing their attention to him. He asks that you not initiate violence unless it is unavoidable. In truth, the success outcome of the Sweet Talk protocol is ... intermittent."
Gab moves up toward the dwarves. He slowly and carefully pulls his pistols and baton, clearly displaying that he is not pointing them toward the dwarves, and slides them away from him, in either direction to his side. He responds in a low, guttural language.