[SFS 1-09] GM Cellion's Live Exploration Extreme! (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Nim reloads her pistol, then goes over to examine the dogslicer embedded in the wall, amazed the goblin had the strength to do that. She's also doubling-down on not looking at the video crew, as she's a bit embarrassed she's had her first friendly-fire incident, even if the ghoul seemed blasé about it.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Faraeon flashes a big grin for the cameras and gives AMOSU a thumbs up. "Nice shooting, Scraps," he calls to the android as he powers down his training baton and holsters his pistol. "Now, let's see if we can figure out what these gobbos were up to."

The lashunta directs his attention toward the pile of rubble and tries to find a safe way to approach it and figure out what blew up.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"Yarrr... that bein' a right and battle true, worthy of the crew o Captain Mustache! You all bein' a hearty band o rogues, sure enough!"

AMOSU moves slowly towards the unconscious goblin, ”I have acquired a captive, does anyone have something to restrain the captive with?” AMOSU carries the goblin closer to the central chamber and places it in a corner between the natural stone and wall to limit the goblin’s ability to flee. ”If not, is there sufficient scrap wire to use as a makeshift bindings? I am not skilled in interrogation, perhaps another could convince it to share any knowledge…”, it glances to Faraeon, ”about what these gobbos were up to…”

AMOSU also glances at the wound to its leg, the impressive claw marks across Faraeon’s chest. ”If anyone is able to perform first-aid it perhaps Faraeon and I could receive treatment. As well as reviving our captive once it has been secured.”

AMOSU continues to keep the its Pulsecaster trained on the goblin (and its targeting system lock, action ready to fire at the goblin if it tries to flee again) while trying to keep the rest of the group in its peripheral vision incase further threats emerge.

”Well-played new friends, excellent collaboration… and…”, tilting its head to Mustachio, ”a fine… kicking of booties…?”

Aazaar dismisses the solar weapon, which turns back into the solar mote lazily floating over his right shoulder.

"Yeah, that seemed to go very well. Everyone all right? Let's have a look around."

Aazanar begins to search the area for anything of interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Kiv silently reloads her rifle and slings it back into position before joining the others. Bad enough they are all pretending to be pirates, but they convinced the android to play along and join them. That may ruin his ability to fit in for months, perhaps years.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Engineering (aid?): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

In the rubble-filled ruin, you find very little that the goblins didn't manage to destroy. Walls have been buckled by the pressure of the blast, scraps of torn metal and chunks of rock litter the ground. Underneath some of the rubble, you find a few additional dead goblin bodies: ones that were less lucky when the explosion went off. A few of the goblins have small pouches filled with scavenged items and pretty baubles, largely wire, destroyed tech similar to what you've seen thus far in the tunnels, and small shards of crystal. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), nothing of value.

You also spot spent casings of the powerful explosive the goblins used, revealing it to be of Pact Worlds origin. Probably something that the goblins brought here.

More interestingly, the hole that the goblins blasted into the ceiling seems to open into a chamber with moist air. A light mist drifts down out of it as it enters the colder chamber below.

The hole is 20ft above the central room, but there's plenty of rubble that can be clambered up to reach the ceiling, so it's not too difficult a climb. If you want to climb up there, given me an athletics check.

A few of the camera-ghouls peel off the get angles of your investigation and any discussion. The production team on the other hand rapidly assembles a two-panel white-toned screen, plush stool, lighting equipment, and a slightly opaque "privacy field". By the time they're done, the whole set up looks like a mini-studio. As they finish setting it up, Wazasha beckons two of you over for a quick interview in The Booth!

For those of you selected to participate in The Booth, please check out the spoilers below. This is an opportunity to play up your character and maybe earn some fans in the audience! Since we've got a time limit here, The Booth segments will run in parallel with the rest of the adventure and we'll limit it to a single set of questions and answers. If you got selected for the Booth, feel free to also participate in whatever else is going on simultaneously. Fair warning: Like any reality show, the questions in the Booth might get a little spicy. If you don't feel comfortable answering any of them, you can abstain and it won't be held against you adventure-wise. And one final point of commentary: if your answers in the Booth play into one of your skills in some fashion, feel free to try a skill check along with your response. It may or may not have some effect. :>
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"Well, what do we have here? The goblins opened a way to go up. Funny, I figured we would be going down for most of this mission. But if there's moisture up there... there might be something alive. Either that or someone left the tap running."

Is the hole the goblins made the only way out?

When Wazasha calls Aazanar over for a "booth" session, he nods. "Okay, just give me a minute to prepare." He sits on the ground cross-legged, and closes his eyes. After a minute he opens his eyes and heads over to the booth.

I'll meditate for a minute to activate Photon Sidereal Influence (which will give me +1d6 to diplomacy).

”Well-played new friends, excellent collaboration… and…”, tilting its head to Mustachio, ”a fine… kicking of booties…?”

"Yarrr harr harr, a fine kicking of booties indeed, Swabby AMOSU. You got what it takes ter be a good pirate. Yer goin place, Swabby, you stick with old Captain Mustache and he'll give ya what for. Now, methinks I'm seein a hole up ahead. Let me up first, Capn's privledges."

climb/athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

I managed to cut and paste in my booth text, and forgot to include my other action. Sorry
Nim leaves the booth, removes her armor and puts it in her bag, then climbs up.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

AMOSU gathers some longer lengths of wire, while keeping an eye on the unconscious goblin. Using several strips AMOSU binds the goblin' hands behind its back and then binds its legs. AMOSU casts curious glances at the new "BOOTH" and its mind boggles over the concept... What a curious expedition this is... Once AMOSU is confident the creature is securely tied, it props the goblin up in the corner attempting to make it somewhat comfortable.

"Again, I believe it would be wise to see what information our captive can provide before we move forward...?" AMOSU says plaintively, glancing between the goblin,the teammates climbing through the newly discovered opening, and those in the BOOTH.

"Not likely, AMOSU," Faraeon calls back as he begins climbing up after his captain. "These gobbos just blew that whole in the ceiling when we arrived, which makes me think they wouldn't have any better idea of what's up here than we do. Besides, he's not going anywhere. If we get stumped, we can always wake him up later." Faraeon turns his attention back to the climb ahead of him and...

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Easily bounds up the pile of rubble.

The hole the goblins made is the only obvious way forward.

Mustachio, Nim and Faraeon easily climb up the rubble and get up into the chamber above. Looking around, you see a large rocky cavern (roughly the same size as the one below, but with tunnels branching off in multiple directions), with ridges of massive phosphorescent blue fungi growing in shelves around the walls. Moss and other plant-life clings to the floor and ceiling.

Half of the camera team keep focused on the Starfinder team still on the lower level, while the other half seem to be making preparations to make the ascent themselves.

Holding off here to allow the rest of the group to make their Athletics checks.

AMOSU checks the goblins bindings one last time, "True Faraeon, though I am less worried about the mystery before us than potential dangers we're leaving behind..."

AMOSU makes sure its pack is secured and attempts to climb the rubble pile.

Athletics/Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

AMOSU slips on a rock as it attempts the climb up, not quite injuring itself, but not quite making any progress either. The camera crew catches every moment of their almost-tumble in multiple angles.

Feel free to give it another try :>

Kiv patiently waits for everyone else to get to the top of the rubble pile, assisting them as necessary, before bringing up the rear.

Automatic aid on Athletics granting a +2

Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

AMOSU stands, brushes the dust and debris from itself. It reassesses the pile of scree and attempts the climb from a different angle.

Athletics/Climb: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12 (+2 is from Kiv, I'll roll again if needed)

Slowly, and not without a few slips AMOSU makes it to the top of the pile. "Thank you for the assistance Kiv."

Once AMOSU is able to see the variety of plant life, it starts analyzing the plants and fungi, attempting to determine if they are indigenous or from other worlds. It continues to share any knowledge using its documentarian voice.

Life Sciences: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Kiv offers a curt nod before scaling the collapsed ceiling.

Nim dons her armor as quickly as she can, making sure the environmental seals are active, then gets the flamethrower's wand in hand. Prior experience has taught her where there's giant, mindless fungus there's giant sentient fungus that thinks she'll make a good spore bed, and she isn't having any of that today.

She also gazes back to see how the folks carrying the ticker do at climbing up.

After leaving the booth, Aazanar sits down again and meditates while the camera crew breaks things down.

Switching Stellar Influence back to Graviton for +1d6 to stealth checks.

Have we fully explored the level we are on before going up the rubble stairs? It sounds like we have but if not I would probabbly want to do that first.

Afterwards, Aazanar springs to his feet and heads to the collapsed stairway. Aazanar quickly ascends the pile of rubble. "Here, AMOSU. Let me give you a hand," he says, reaching down to haul AMOSU up.

I assume we can take 10 to climb?

Athletics Take 10 to Climb: 10 + 10 = 20
Athletics Aid Amosu: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Once upstairs he has a look around. "What do we have here? Anyone have a sample kit? We should get some of that glowing fungus."

Perception to look around: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

I'll wait for a map before discussing possible exits.

Once he reaches the upper level and sees there are no immediate threats, Faraeon ties his cable line to a nearby bit of flora. He lowers the other end down through the hole to provide his companions and the rest of the film crew an easier way up. "It's...strangely beautiful up here," he calls down to those still below. "Massive amounts of fungi and other plant-life. Kip, you've got to see this. Maybe you'll know something about some of these species."

The halfling awkwardly clambers up the cable, still a far cry from his idol's ability, but soon reaches the upper level and compares the plants and fungi he sees to some of his research data.

Kip Life Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"Sorry, sir," Kip says ashamedly, "I missed a week or two of my xenobotany class because my cousin got taken over by killer cybernetic augmentations and died. I must have missed the unit on xenomycology."

@Aazanar: You definitely haven't explored everything on the lower floor, as that floor is packed with hundreds of interlocking tunnels and service passageways, only some of which you saw. Regardless, the strange mushroom filled space is much more interesting :>

The rest of the party ascend up into the upper chamber with help from Kiv and Aazanar. Once there, you begin taking a look around as the camera and production crews fire auto-grapplers and smoothly ascend up with their equipment in tow.

Kip and AMOSU inspect the fungi and other plant life, but beyond some similarities to species elsewhere in the Pact Worlds, they're not able to deduce exactly what types of fungus there are. At the very least, AMOSU is fairly confident that the plants here are not inherently dangerous.

You wander deeper into the moist cavern and find massive glowing mushrooms, with caps as large as 10ft wide, as well as other exotic luminescent specimens. As the party (and the camera crew) pause to take in these impressive examples of alien flora, you all hear a sound coming from the far end of the cavern. Footsteps from multiple pairs of feet, trudging heavily across stone and then almost soundlessly across moss.

In the dim light of the glowing fungi, you spot a small group of squat dwarves marching towards you. What immediately strikes you is their attire: heavy metal pauldrons, chain mail, and wooden hafted steel axes at their belts. They look like they're right from a fantasy vid-serial, or from a pre-Gap reenactment.

The scarred female dwarf at the front of the group comes to a halt thirty paces away and holds up a hand to halt the rest of her group. She casts a wary glance at your team, particularly wary once she catches sight of the undead ghouls carrying equipment.

She raises her voice. "Назовете си името и посочете целта си, странни пътници." Her tone is gruff and tense, but she doesn't seem outright hostile.

Pic of the dwarf leader in handouts.

Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Are they speaking 'Terran'? Damn these planar languages! I really have to invest in a translator.

Kiv eyes the rest of her team of 'pirates', No way this goes well if I let these pretenders get involved.

Kiv holsters her weapons and takes a cautious step before group. She greets the dwarven team in a number of languages in an effort to find common ground. She repeats, "Greetings. We are with the Starfinder Society. Can we offer you aid or support?"

Kiv will repeat this phrase in Akitonian, Aklo, Castrvellian, Common, Elven, Eoxian, Goblin, and Vesk. She will pause momentarily to see if there is any glimmer of recognition or effort on their part to try other languages toward us.

As Kiv repeats her greeting in Aklo, the dwarven woman's countenance clouds, but she responds in the same language. Her pronunciation is strange and hesitant, with emphasis on the wrong parts of the sentence. You suspect that this is not a language she uses very often.

"η κοινωνία ανιχνευτών αστέρων? Ποιος είναι ο σκοπός σας εδώ, περίεργοι ταξιδιώτες? Είστε με ή εναντίον των κτηνωδών φυλών που μας έβαλαν?"

With a hint of wry levity in her tone, she adds "Είναι ένας άρρωστος χαρακτήρας που γνωρίζουμε τους ξένους που μιλάνε τη γλώσσα των πιο δύσβατων πλασμάτων των σκοτεινών περιοχών, ανεξάρτητα από το πόσο εγκάρδια αυτοί παρουσιάζουν ..."

The team behind the dwarf leader is tense, hands on axe hafts in case they need to be drawn.

Wow! Got it on the third try. Sometimes it's better be lucky than good. Still, I would rather be good. Luck inevitably runs out, usually at the wrong time.

Happy to find a way to communicate, the operative tries to put the dwarves at ease.

"Θα έπρεπε τότε να ανησυχώ ότι μιλάς την ίδια« άθλια »γλώσσα; Όσο για αυτό το warband, δεν έχω συναντήσει αυτά τα orcs για τα οποία μιλάς, αλλά δεν έχω ακόμα συναντήσει ένα orc που ονομάζω« φίλος »Είμαι το Kiv, οι σύμμαχοί μου εδώ είναι οι Aazanar, AMOSU, Faraeon, Sargent Nim και επικεφαλής προσώπου θερμότερο. Όπως οι περισσότεροι Mustache, του αρέσει να βλέπει τους στρατιώτες να κάνουν όλη την πραγματική δουλειά και να πάρει όλη την πίστη. απομίμηση." With this last part, the operative offers the camera a look and a quick wink. It is the most demonstrative interaction she has had with the 'live stream'.

"Είμαστε αυτοί οι orcs που ψάχνετε ακόμα γύρω από αυτές τις σήραγγες; Απλά αποστείλαμε μια μπάντα goblins οι ίδιοι και θα καλωσόρισαν την ευκαιρία να σας βοηθήσουν στην υπεράσπιση της φυλής σας."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Yarr harr harr! Secret agent Kiv! You do be a regular diplomat! But perhaps you better leave the talkin to me, you are much too secret of an agent to be yappin' your jaws like this!"

Mustachio whips out his tetrad certified translator and starts collecting the data it needs to operate. Once the light turns green, Mustachio tries out the translating functions for the first time.

In dwarven: "Yarr. Εγώ είμαι καπετάνιος μουστάκι στην υπηρεσία σας."

diplo: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 8 + (3) = 24

"Bah, blast this thing. It lacks all subtlety."

The dwarf visibly relaxes as Kiv diplomatically introduces her party. At the offer of assistance, she looks relieved and also hopeful.

"Είμαι ο Ylga Tulgarst, κόρη του Ulfrodi, ομιλητής για το Clan Marbleheart. Χαίρομαι που σε γνωρίζω, το Kiv, και σας καλωσορίζω στη μικρή μας γωνιά των Darklands". She makes a strange sign with her fist. "Μπορεί η Torag να την προστατεύσει προς τιμήν του σοβαρού αγώνα μας"

"Είμαι βαθιά ανακουφισμένος που ακούω ότι θεωρείτε ότι ορμάς τους εχθρούς σας. Η φυλή μου πάλεψε τους ορκους εδώ και αιώνες και ενώ μας επέτρεψαν να είμαστε για λίγες δεκαετίες ηρεμίας και ευημερίας, μερικές εκατοντάδες εργάτες πριν από μέρες επέστρεψαν να αγωνιστούμε και πάλι για πολέμους, είναι πιο πονηροί και δειλοί τώρα απ 'ότι ήταν κάποτε, αλλά όχι λιγότερο σκληροί και έχασα πολλούς φίλους στις λεπίδες και τη μαγεία τους."

"Σε αυτές τις σκοτεινές μέρες, μεταξύ των σεισμών και των ορκινών επιθέσεων, υπάρχουν μερικοί στη μπάντα μου."

At the mention of goblins, she frowns in alarm "Οι αρχαίοι τόμοι της φυλής μας μνημονεύουν ένα τέτοιο πλάσμα, ένα φίδι και ενοχλήσεις που αγωνίστηκαν στις παλιές μέρες. Η γνώση του τι ακριβώς είναι, έχει χαθεί εδώ και πολύ καιρό, αλλά αν λέτε ότι τώρα επιστρέφουν, τότε είναι πραγματικά καλοί ειδήσεις ... Όλοι οι αρχαίοι εχθροί μας επιστρέφουν για να μας τελειώσουν σε αυτή την εποχή του κατακλυσμού!"

AMOSU carefully studies the dwarves' mannerisms and appearance, attempting garner any clue as to the origin.

Cultures: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

AMOSU moves foward and addresses the dwarves after Kiv, "Είναι τιμή να σας γνωρίσω, τον Ylga Tulgarst και τη φυλή σας. Όπως είπε το Kiv, είμαστε στην ευχάριστη θέση να βοηθήσουμε όσο μπορούμε. Ώρα κατακλυσμού; Αναφέρατε επίσης σεισμούς. Μπορείτε να εξηγήσετε περαιτέρω τι συνέβη; Από τη δική μας γνώση η σταθερότητα αυτού του φεγγαριού είναι καλή, αλλά η βαρύτητα μπορεί να είναι ασταθής. Θα ήθελα επίσης να μάθω περισσότερα από τα Orcs που συναντάς."

AMOSU acknowledges the team, "I believe Kiv is successfully befriending the dwarves. We are able to converse in Aklo, if you need assistance with translation I can assist." AMOSU returns its attention to the dwarves and Kiv, "Υπάρχουν αρκετές από την ομάδα μας που δεν μπορούν να μας καταλάβουν, αν χρειαστεί, είμαι ευτυχής να μεταφράσω για εσάς. Παρακαλώ, μην φοβάστε τους άλλους συμπατριώτες μας. Τα undead δεν είναι αυτά που μπορεί να γνωρίζετε και δεν θα παρεμβαίνουν σε τίποτα που κάνουμε. Πρέπει να παρακολουθούν και να κινηματογραφούν."

If anyone has questions, I'll rely them word for word.

Nim thanks AMOSU for offering to translate, and asks for a recap of what was previously said in Aklo. She then asks AMOSU "Can you ask them where they got the wood and metal for their gear, since all we've seen is this fungus forest? I've got two guesses, but I'd like to know their answers."

Having just attuned his device to dwarvish, when the conversation switches to Aklo Mustachio has a really hard time keeping up. He frantically smashes buttons on the side of his translator in order to autotune it to the different language. Since it take multiple minutes to do so, he is ultimately disappointed.

"Yarrr... Translator my booty. Tetrad, you do watching this stream, know that yer translator is a piece o rusted metal!"

Seeing as we now have AMOSU translating full time, I'll post the rest of Ylga's speech in plain text despite it still really being Aklo.

Ylga proves more than willing to answer your questions, excited as she is to have found potential allies against the orcs. She responds with "We have always had tremors here in the Darklands, but of late, they have become far stronger. Sometimes, cave ceilings collapse without warning. I've lost many a clansman that way, but at the same time the collapses sometimes open up new passages that enable us to escape danger... We found you now by following the sound of another collapse."

"Moo-n? Gravee-tee? I know not these strange words you speak of. Arcane terminology, I assume? I was never one for the arcane arts."

"Yes the orcs. They frequently raid our encampments these days. They are shorter than the old stories describe, but no less full of malice and madness. They jabber in a strange tongue that I cannot understand, despite the fact that I learned the old orcish tongue as part of my warrior training. They appear and disappear almost at random, but often after a collapse or earthquake. I suspect they're drawn to calamity. It reflects their evil nature."

"Their numbers seem endless, and their magic fearsome. I only fear that they will gather their forces and finish us off before we can finally finish our centuries long Quest for Sky. My people deserve to see the light of the sun once more. May Torag protect us until then!"

Recognizing that the last question comes from Nim, she turns to the ill-fated human to respond "As for our weapons, they were gifted to my ancestors by Torag himself, many years ago. The armor were produced in our own forges from ore we found and mined over the years."

Nim waves the team in to talk. "Okay, I was only half-right about what I was thinking, unless 'mining' means 'ripping processed metal out of the walls and smelting it down without question.' Anyway, here's my thought. We lead these folk to where the goblins blew a hole in the floor---their floor, our ceiling, you know what I mean--and from there to the moon's surface." Nim scowls. "Wait, did the moon have an atmosphere? I had my armor on and didn't notice. Alright, if someone can answer me that in a good way we take them outta here and see if getting them to the surface ends their 'Quest for the Sky.' Or they may go crazy, since they don't know they're living in a moon, assuming they're not insane already from living in a mushroom-infested cave. Once that's over we come back and see what these dwarf orcs are about."

"Wait, did she say Torag?" Faraeon asks AMOSU. "Who's Torag?"

Culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"Ho ho ho, Star-Jumper. You not be man o the sailin' world, I see. Every pirate worth 'is salt knows that a Torag be a fierce noreasterner storm that comes with a vengence upon the unwary. Watch yerself, they say, or a Torag be a grabbin' you and pullin' you down to Davy Jones' locker!"

Faraeon vaguely recalls that Torag is an ancient, pre-Gap dwarven god. (Mysticism is the right skill to know much more)

Ylga looks from person to person in your group, clearly not understanding what's being spoken.

In Aklo, she adds "If you're willing to fight the orcs, you should come with us and meet our chief priest, Holsin. He's back at the encampment, but we should get the blessings of Torag upon you to protect you from orcish magic."

----

#LEE! Anyone know Aklo? What'd they say at the start before the subtitles?

#LEE! LOL, the dwarves are super fake. They've gotta be paid actors.
#LEE! OH MAN ORCS! Time for an action scene. Zo! never disappoints.
#LEE! Ylga is HOT
#LEE! O_O
#LEE! Anyone wanna send Tetrad a mail with a clip of that Mustachio guy? Good for some lulz.
#LEE! AMOSU is totally brilliant, I'm claiming him!

AMOSU takes a moment to convey the team's conversation to Ylga, leaving out Mustachio's comments on Torag. Responding in Aklo, "I apologize, you stated you don't feel comfortable speaking this language. I am fluent in Common, Vercite, Ysoki, Vesk, Draconic, and Triaxian if one of those suits you better. I have not had the opportunity to learn Dwarven. How far is to your encampment? I believe I and my companions would like to know more about your people, so we can make a proper introduction to your Chieftain."

AMOSU conveys Ylga's comments to the team, "Nim, I believe there is insufficient atmosphere on the surface... Ylga would like to take us to the dwarven camp. It appears Torag is their primary deity."

Provided there's no immediate reason to halt from the team, I'm going to follow Ylga to the camp.

After catching everyone up on the conversation, AMOSU continues to speak with Ylga (in whatever language she chooses), "Please, lead us to your encampment. We will do what we can to aid you in your struggle against the orcs. If I can inquire as we walk...", AMOSU continues without really waiting for a response, caught up in its curiosity, "Your clan has lived here for generations, yes? Can I ask, what do you call this world? If you seek a means to the surface, we can lead you there. You said the orcs are 'shorter, cowardly, and cunning' now, can you describe them in more detail? Can you tell us more of Torag and the forge?" AMOSU begins to try and pace itself, realizing that it is barraging their new host with questions...

"Why would these primitive dwarves worship a storm, I ask ye? Yarr harr harr, it no be makin' sense, but it matter not. If orcs are up ahead, surely they soon all be dead!"

Mustachio attempts to throw his flamethrower up in the air, spin, and catch it for the camera, but ends up dropping it on the ground and a plume of flame spouts up almost burning his lovely 'stache.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Kip Mysticism on Torag: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Kip does some deep reading about Torag on his datapad, then relays what he knows of the ancient deity to the team.

Meanwhile, Faraeon ponders why a bunch of dwarves living in a moon-sized space rock have decided to follow some pre-Gap deity and talk about some Quest for Sky. "Sounds like something out of a history book or something," he says. "Isn't Torag like, not around anymore or something? Anyway, yeah I guess we can help these guys kick some orc butt. Those punks don't stand a chance against the Starfinders!" He throws his head back and laughs loudly, as if inviting the orcs to try an attack.

culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Do you think this moon could be a lost Dwarven Star-Citadel? It seems very strange to find dwarves here. If they worship Torag, they must have got here before the Gap. Before drift travel. So long that they've forgotten that this is a worldlet surrounded by vacuum."

"And are orcs known for magic use? I thought they tended to be warriors."

"By all means let us help these dwarves. But I have to wonder how these two races ended up in such close proximity. And if these dwarves have never seen the surface in their lifetimes, I wonder if they might want to undertake their own 'Quest for Sky?'"

Dwarves lost since before the Gap? This certainly does sound unlikely.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 To determine if the dwarves believe what they are saying or if they are acting.

Still, if this is the path we are on, may as well follow it to its conclusion.

On the way back to Ylga's encampment, you quickly find that she shares no other languages with AMOSU. In fact, she expresses utter confusion upon hearing most of them. Common, she seems to be able to pick up a word here or there, but the rest are a lost cause.

In Aklo, she answers AMOSU's questions "My clan's encampment is not more than 15 minute from here. And we don't have a chieftan. My clan split into separate bands many a forge-day ago, in hopes of better evading the orcs and other dangers of the Darklands. I lead my particular band."

"We've been trapped within the Darklands as far back as our histories go. Which unfortunately, is only for a dozen generations or so. Much has been lost in the great upheavals and in the early exodus from the deepest parts of the Darklands." She looks deeply saddened by that fact. "What we call this world? What a peculiar question. The world is Golarion, of course."

"If you know a way to return to the surface that is truly safe..." Her eyes shine with hope. "My band has recently hit nothing but pockets of toxic subterranean gas, blocking our ability to proceed onwards. If there was another way up...?"

Ylga also describes the orcs that she's been fighting over the last year in enough detail for you to quickly realize that she's actually been fighting goblins, not orcs! She describes the "orcs" firing scorching ray spells from their wands, wielding jagged "falchion"s made from unknown metals, and deploying fireball traps to catch dwarven scouts unaware.

While the cameras split their attention between Mustachio's antics and Ylga and AMOSU's Q+A session, Kiv quietly observes the dwarven group. Based on her best analysis, all of them completely believe what Ylga is saying. None of them are acting or being deceptive.

-----

Separating posts for readability...

Your group heads through fungus-clad tunnels and passageways, following after the dwarves and their leader. After a quarter of an hour, the lead dwarves suddenly start to frown, and the more keen-eared among you begin to hear shouts in dwarven coming from the tunnel ahead.

The dwarves, your team, and your camera crew all rush forwards. The tunnel opens up into another cavern, this one sporting a cluster of stone buildings built out of the cavern wall at the far end. In the center of the cluster a massive fissure cuts through the little village! The fissure has collapsed several structures and dislodged a truly tremendous chunk of stone that has fallen from the ceiling to block the entrance to one particular stone structure at the center of the village. Teams of dwarves scurry about, trying to move stone to access and rescue the wounded and dead.

Ylga and the other scouts are blindsided by this development, but not for long! She shouts out in Aklo "The Temple of Torag was crushed! Priest Holsin is probably still inside! I have to help!" and rushes towards the temple with her team.

Pausing for any reactions...

Nim is silently cursing the dwarves. When mention had been made of short orcs she thought they might have been referring to the goblins, but Ulga didn't seem to be on the same level as the idiots who have repeatedly mistaken Nim for a Ysoki. Now she finds herself sympathizing with goblins for the first time in her life.

When the group reaches the village Nim will move to the temple and examine it, to either figure out the best way to move the stone or find another weak point that can be made into an access to the temple. She then curses that she still doesn't own an Engineering Kit, inhibiting her ability to evaluate the situation.

Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

”Their priest was crushed?! No way! Come on, folks. Anybody who knows a lick about engineering, let’s get to work!” Faraeon rushes forward to help the dwarves.

Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

As he joins in the work, Faraeon uses his limited telepathy to think aloud for the cameras, which he is sure have some kind of telepathic receivers for any species that communicate that way, Could these dwarves really be from Golarion? How is that possible? Was the planet blasted apart and this moonlet somehow survived? Or could they have been transported here somehow from the distant past? What IS Salvation’s End?!

AMOSU continues the conversation with Ylga as they walk, contemplating what she has said... Golarion, lack of technologies, confusing goblins and orcs. How did these dwarves come to be here...

"We have come from the surface, and we could lead you out safely..." Snapped out of its need to questions, AMOSU turns to see what has alarmed Ylga. As it processes the collapse and injured it dashes behind Ylga to aid the dwarves. AMOSU shouts switching, between Common and Aklo, a quick, sharp series of directives.

Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Physical Science: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

"Yarr! They do be in trouble! Do not fear, Capn Mustache can fix this!"

Possessing no practical skills like engineering, scientific knowledge, or common sense, Mustachio doesn't use his brain but tries to aid however he can moving rubble.

Is it time for Dr. Muztazio Howzer, premier medical examiner from Absalom Station, to make a cameo?

Is this the work of more goblins? There are certainly several that were unaccounted for from our earlier reconnaissance. Kiv scans the cavern for signs of the terrible mites before adding her efforts to the rescue operation.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Engineering, aid: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

As the group travels to the dwarven homestead, Kiv surreptitiously works on her datapad. She noted earlier that two of the team were pulled away, no doubt for personal interviews of some sort. That level of scrutiny does not sit well with the undercover operative. She decides to program her digital imp to sabotage the broadcast system when it is her 'turn' in the booth. The camera should 'freeze' just before she sit (capturing a blurred image of her body), and recording nothing more than static and garbled words.

Computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

As Ylga and the other dwarves immediately pitch in to help with the rescue efforts, your team spends a moment analyzing the situation with their engineering knowledge. Most of the dwarves that were hurt outside of the temple are easy enough to rescue and help. Ylga's team quickly starts shifting rocks and carrying people to safety. The real problem is the temple...

From the look of the temple's facade, the massive boulder has crushed the entrance and cut off access, plus it probably caused further collapses inside. Furthermore, the fissure cuts through the temple's foundation, destabilizing things further.

Nim, Faraeon, AMOSU and Kiv recognize that there are probably two main ways to get into the temple to rescue anyone trapped inside. The first is to move the boulder, a task both risky and difficult without causing further damage to the structure. The second is to descend into the fissure and come up into the temple from underneath. This option is complicated by the presence of some kind of slick, black slimy fluid coating the walls and bottom of the fissure.

As you consider your approach, you hear Wazasha's voice coming quietly through your internal comms. "To compensate for the less-than-action-packed last few minutes, Zo! has put the choice between the fissure and the boulder paths up to audience vote. The digital ticker will show where to votes stand shortly. You're not bound to follow what the audience wants, but you better have a good reason why you're ignoring them!"

(Mechanically, if you choose the opposite of the audience's preference, each of you should make a verbal appeal (for the sake of the cameras) to attempt to sway the audience. You'll need to roll an appropriate skill check as part of this effort in order to be convincing.)

After a few seconds of uncertainty, the votes are in! The fissure path wins by a massive margin! It seems the audience likes the idea of subjecting you all to the goop inside.

(Go ahead and work out which approach you want to take, and I'll let you know how it'll work mechanically)

---

#LEE! NO! Those poor dwarves and their cute little village!

#LEE! Whoa, we get to vote?
#LEE! Oozeoozeoozeooze!
#LEE! Make 'em go in the ooze!
#LEE! I'd like to see Faraeon take a bath in there. :O
#LEE! Nim is gonna slip, calling it now!
#LEE! YEAH Fissure won!
#LEE! GJ GJ ALL~