”Thanks, Aliabrains! This’ll be a big help!” Tiktik replied to the contemplative’s message.
”Thanks for the stipend, professor! We’ll put it to good use. And don’t worry we’ll find Dr. Solstarni in no time. We’re getting super good at this!” he beamed in reply to Muhali.
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A note from Dr. Muhali explains that the school will help outfit the expedition with the following once you arrive in Turhalu Point.
- 3 weeks worth of R2Es per person.
- 4 doses of tier-1 antitoxin.
- 4 doses of sprayflesh.
- One lightly used set of lashunta ringwear II.
- A carbon steel curve blade.
- One consumer backpack to each person, if needed.
- Four mass-produced tents.
- Up to one-hundred credits worth of batteries/ammunition, of each players choice.
Other than that, you will need to purchase any gear you think you might need for an extended wilderness journey. You know that Ukulam is maintained as a nature perserve by the three main powers of Castrovel, and that, aside from ruins and a few scientific outposts, it is almost untouched by civilization.
thank you for your assistance Dr Muhali. I believe I have procured some additional gear that may prove useful on our trek. I hope that when we return we will have good news for you and perhaps some new research for the university as well.
Tiktik, i do not see any publically available maps for our destination. Perhaps we can find some not so easily available maps on the infosphere?
Gesturing to the other Starfinders as he shoulders a tent and one of the backpacks loaded with rations.
"I am ready if you are ready."
I am all ready!
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The university arranges for the proper visas for your travel to Turhalu Point, and a couple of days later, you are lead to the aiudara that travels there--an elegantly crafted stone archwway of immense age.
Travel is painless, and instantaneous.
The station at Turhalu Point sits at the tip of a broad peninsula covered in rolling plains and expanses of tall, pale green grasses that shimmer with violet hues in the wind. Short-lived blooms of magenta fungus tower nearly twenty feet over the landscape, though many have begun to wilt and others are marred by bite marks of half a dozen sizes.
Trumpeting calls echo across the plains as immense, sixlegged creatures with long, swooping necks trek steadily across the grass toward the western jungles. Beyond rise the Singing Range, its peaks barely visible through the haze.
Turhalu Point still shows signs of its past as a miltiary installation--the buildings are brutalist, concrete structures surrounded by utterly utilitarian defensive emplacements--walls, turrets, earthworks.
However, it seems most of the bunkers and storage facilities here have been converted to laboratories and quarters for the few scientists that staff this outpost.
On your arrival at the aiudara you see a dark skinned human man, who greets you with visible excitement.
"Starfinders! I am Dr Khair al-Nuaf. We are very pleased--very pleased, indeed--to have you here at Turhalu Point. I've spoken to Doctor Muhali, and I'll be happy to assist you in whatever way I can while you undergo this expedition."
Dr. al-Nuaf can provide you with some maps of the area you'll be going into. He tells you that he estimates that it will take between 10 and 12 days to travel to the temple described in Zan's notes.
"I will not lie to you. You'll be on foot, travelling through dense, sub-tropical jungle. Temperatures will exceed 30 degrees most days--a bit cooler at night. If you're lucky, you'll make 12 miles a day--lose your way, quite a bit less.
"This isn't going to be the most enjoyable journey of your lives, but it could be quite manageable for people of your capabilities. The fauna--and not a small amount of the flora--can be dangerous out there, as well, but again, I expect you've faced such difficulties before."
The doctor transfers the promised goods to you.
"So, is there anything else I can help you with?"
thank you for your assistance so far. If you have any maps of the area even if they are survey maps that would be helpful, as well as any specific biological dangers we should be on the lookout for.
The ysoki who just a week ago had never left Absalom station before, marveled at the new sights of Castrovel. Several minutes after Dr. Al-Nuaf approached them--and while he was in the middle of a conversation with the others--Tiktik suddenly noticed the man as if he'd just teleported out of nowhere. He took his hand and vigorously shook it. "Hi! I'm Tiktik. What's your name? We just came through that magical gate thingy! It was super neat. It didn't hurt at all, although..." he pulled the human in closer and continued in a whisper, "I think you might wanna have someone take a look at its settings. I think I might be inverted. I used to have 4 whiskers on my right, and 5 of my left," he said as his eyes crossed staring down the length of his nose, "and now its backwards! Anyway, we're here to find a lost temple. Just like in those Idorian Jones movies!"
Funny you should mention Idorian Jones. I just saw an Eoxian reality show with a group of Starfinders exploring some site. One of the Starfinders, a fellow android named valeric, kept going on and on about archeology. I think he wants to be Idorian Jones.
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"I saw that too!" al-Nuaf exclaims. "It must be so exciting to be a Starfinder."
"I can't say what you'll face out there--I'm no biologist. But Castrovel is famous for its dangerous wildlife, so definitely be careful."
Looking more chagrined, al-Nuaf continues.
"If I knew those bastards had kidnapped Dr. Solstarni when they passed through...anyway, they have a head start on you, so you'll want to make all haste. It sounds like you and they have the same destination in mind, anyway. I hope you get her back safe."
When everyone is prepared to leave, a tracked landcraft takes you about 15 miles out of Turhalu Point, but can go no further--there are strict laws regarding the presence of vehicles in the interior.
"Best of luck. We eagerly await your return."
You can quickly discover the tracks of a large party moving north-north-west through the grasslands and towards the dense jungle, in the same direction you need to go.
Tiktik directs Elliot to hover overhead to help provide a bird's eye view as the party navigates through the jungle as well as to keep an eye out for any movement nearby.
"I've got Elliot up above watching out for us. What do you guys think? Follow their tracks or try to find our own shortcut?"
i say shortcut, let us see if we can find and return the good doctor
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The grasses range from a mere three feet to over eight feet tall in places, making sighting dangers difficult, but also making it easier to sneak about for you.
That said, you see nothing particularly dangerous today.
Working together, with Taleks leadership, you make excellent time. By days end you are still in the grasslands that surround Turhalu point, but you will likely reach jungle by the third day of travel.
You'll need to make camp, and cross off a days worth of R2Es or other food sources if you've brought them.
i believe we are making good time, let us get set up for the night. Bepo would you like first watch while it is still light out? talek begins setting tents.
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Despite hearing wildlife moving quietly through the tall grass, the first night ends without issue.
The second day begins, much hotter than the first. For those used to the climate controlled environments of space stations or ships, its nearly intolerably hot and humid.
If you would like, you can activate the environmental protections of your armor. You can use this for one day per level of your armor; you an choose to only activate it during the part of the day you are travelling, which will use roughly half a days worth of protection.
If you don't use your armors protection, you'll need to make a fortitude save twice a day (every 6 hours of travel) to avoid the worst effects of travelling in this heat. Anyone wearing armor or heavy amounts of clothing will take a -4 penalty to this saving throw.
A character can make a survival check to grant a bonus to this fortitude check using the Endure Severe Weather action.
Regardless of whether you choose to use armor or tough it out, I'll need a daily Orienteering survival check to stay on the path.
Bepo will activate his environmental protection of my armor for the worst parts of the day. Also each night I will take first watch while its still light out.
Talek activates his armor during the worst parts of the day.
Tiktik strongly considers leaving his armor environmental protections off, as he admires the heat-resistant environmental clothing that he crafted for himself back on Absalom Station. But as he sees all of the seasoned adventurers he's happy to call his new best friends turn theirs on, he decides to follow their lead, activating his armor's protections during the hottest parts of the day.
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The second day passes without incident. You are able to find your way almost all the way through the tall grasslands around Turhalhu Point. You have no doubt that the following day, you'll reach the edge of the jungle.
The next day is as hot as the last--you'll need to continue to activate your armors environmental protections (or use life bubble) to avoid the ill effects of the heat.
You are nearly to the edge of the jungle when you see a large herd of massive, six-legged beasts with bony keratin horns and rough, pebbly skin. They are milling about, feeding from the large grasses, and occasionally idly knocking over trees to eat the roots beneath.
You can go around the herd, but it would likely add another day to your travel time. Alternately, you can attempt to move through, as quietly and carefully as you can.
we should keep our distance an not present ourselves as being aggresive. They are herbivores but can be deadly when provoked. I remember reading about them. Called Yaruk's i believe.
After a quick discussion, talek plots a route that takes them the short route as quietly and non threateningly as possible.
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You begin carefully picking your way through the grass, avoiding the gigantic yaruks as they graze.
The creatures are slow, and you make your way about halfway through the pack when you hear a loud, cracking noise.
One of the nearby yaruks bellows in pain. Several others hoot in alarm, and soon the entire herd is stampeding away!
CHASE SCENE
Each round, you will be able to perform an action as you attempt to evade these massive beasts. Succesful actions are tallied; if you achieve a certain number of successes, you manage to escape the herd.
You can perform one of the following:
Activate an Ability You can use a class or racial ability, feat, or cast a spell. This doesn't necessarily count as a success, but depending on the effect may automatically grant one.
Distract (Bluff or Intimidate). You try to draw the Yaruks attention away from the others. This gives you a -2 penalty to AC and saves against the Yaruks for a round, but grants the other PCs a +2 bonus to the same. This does not earn a success.
Hide (Stealth). Take cover and avoid the Yaruks. This doesn't grant any successes, but may help you avoid the effects of the Yaruks for a round.
Navigate (Survival) Find a good path to avoid the Yaruks. This earns one success.
Scramble (Athletics) Avoid obstacles by climbing, swinging, or running. This earns one success.
Spook (hard intimidate). Try to scare a yaruk away. You can make a ranged attack as part of this action to provide a bonus. This earns one success.
Squeeze (Acrobatics) Squeeze through obstacles or nimbly leap through trees to avoid the yaruks. This earns one success.
Each round, the Yaruks will perform an action, which can affect the PCs in a number of ways.
ROUND ONE
The Yaruks begin to scatter around wildly. This has no effect on the PCs this round.
PCs, please state your actions.
over coms
gunshot northwest, moving to intercept, tiktik see if elliot can spot anyone? using acrobatics to move northwest with laser rifle out.
What the hell was that noise
Using Athletics to Scramble
Attempting to Squeeze and put some obstacles between myself and the creatures
Tiktik gets as low as he can and scurries through the herd as stealthily as he can. Elliot uses his flight to his advantage and nimbly flies above.
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Keeping a cool head, Volter tries to navigate a way through this mess.
Most of the party fumbles about trying to avoid the stampeding herd, but Volter, Elliott, and B-Bop do quite well.
2 Successes.
B-Bop is hidden and has bonuses against the herd this round.
Round 2
Sudden Shift: The yaruks abruptly change direction, startling you and necessitating a change in tactics. Using the same skill this round as you used last will have a -4 penalty.
Players, what are your actions.
Using survival for to navigate my way
Casting Ghost Sound between the Yaruks and the party, making a loud roar and growl of a predatory species
Damn these guys sure are annoying
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Volter continues to try to find a clear path.
The Starfinders fare much better this round, increasing their successes to 9.
You have gotten somewhat closer to the forest, and so far are no worse for the wear.
Round Three
A shower of splinters rains down as a Yaruk slams directly into a large tree!
Reflex Saves, vs. DC 14 for half damage.
Overclock
Elliot
Volter
Talek
Bepo
Jax
B-Bop
L
Players, what are your actions?
Talek grunts in pain, but keeps moving using acrobatics to avoid them
As Tiktik gets pelted with shrapnel and wood pulp, he decides that these beats are too big to run around and that the safest place to be might be underneath them.
Elliot continues to hover overhead while trying to catch sight of their attackers and which way they fled.
Bepo gets smacked around a bit by the falling debris.
Using Athletics to Scramble
Attempting to move through the obstacles again.