Get em on the creature, then taking a shot.
Tiktik continues to stare dumbfoundedly at the creature's pretty flowers. Meanwhile Elliot keeps plugging away with his rifle.
And scores a massive hit!
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Bepo cleaves through the vines that make up the Vracinea's central trunk, unleashing a torrent of sap and digestive fluids. The creature struggles to fight on, waving its tendrils in the air and snapping its jaws at Bepo, but goes down in a hail of gunfire from B-Bop, L, and Elliot.
The Kaukarikis shriek, outraged,and scatter into the jungle.
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Ya smell dat? Do ya smell dat? Salsa, dude. Nuthin' else in da world smells like dat. I love da smell of salsa in da mornin'. Ya know, one time we had some tomatoes cooked, fer twelve hours. When it was all mixed, I walked up. We didn't find one of dem, not one stinkin' tortilla chip. Da smell, ya know dat cilantro smell, da whole kitchen. Smelled like... appetizers.
B-Bop are you always hungry Bepo laughs and turns to the rest of the group. Can we take a small break first before continuing, that plant hit pretty hard.
that was most unpleasant. I do not wish to repeat that experience. Talek, seeing Bepo resting pulls out his scanner and begins searching the area
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About 30 feet south of the obelisk, buried under vegetation, you find the a torn suit of Estex armor--unsalvageable and worthless. Nearby you spot a frostbite-class zero rifle with a ruptured battery slotted within. The rifle has been gnawed on--likely by the Vracinea--but seems to still be in working condition, provided the battery is replaced.
Also nearby is a credstick with 510 credits on it.
The stonework here does indeed appear to be the landmark Zan refers to as the Rune Obelisk in the notes on his expedition. There appears to be some sort of runic writing on the stones.
Other fragments seem to contain mentions of "paying respect" to "messengers from beyond", an academy, and "interpreters of the beacon."
Pulling out the Xhinti Holding linguist kit, L works towards deciphering the writing. Seeming to come up a bit short.
”Pah. I studied the native tongue of Castrovel, but this is a tad out of my realm. I suppose I’ll have to resort to magic again.”
Casting Comprehend Languages to see if that helps
Telek removes the battery from the rifle and replaces it with a fresh one after seeing its still in working order. Then begins studying the marker.
It looks like the pillar used to be the base of a larger structure, like an observation platform. It looks like there is more rubble under all that vegetation.
”It appears to have a warning. Loskialua, monastery of starsong.”
Holding his comms device in the air, then frowning at it.
”Do any of you have a better signal? Mine isn’t able to connect with Sunny at this distance. We could possibly look up info on these things.”
"Sorry, L, I only have personal range on my comm too. So this is just a landmark on the way to where we are going, right? I'm all for looking around for anything interesting, but we shouldn't take too long, since we still have more than a week left to go if I remember right."
Talek pulls out his charts and navigation kit amd checks in with elliot telepathically to get the lay of the land
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Talek does an exemplary job, and you make excellent time for the remainder of the day.
You are continually harassed by the outraged Kaukarikis, who seem to be following you after your battle against the Vracinea. They throw small stones, and repeatedly try to creep down and steal your gear. The are quickly frightened away by any show of force, and they aren't dangerous, merely loud and annoying. Eventually, they get discouraged and stop following you.
You manage to set up a decent camp that night, and the night passes without incident.
The following morning, you break camp and continue on your journey.
Talek's navigation continues to be true, and you manage to keep to the path set out by Haukaleem Zan--confirmed by the occaisional minor landmarks you pass.
Around mid-morning, several of you spot a creature trailing behind you. Once it is clear that it has been spotted, it gallops away at speed.
Still, several more times you spot the creature tailing you. Everytime it is spotted, it slinks away.
has anyone gotten a good look at the creature trailing us? I have caught glimpses but have been unable to determine what it is
"Whoa! A Ksarik! They're smart predatory plants, kinda like that thing that tried to eat you, Bepo. I saw them on a Galactic Geographic program; they're super rare and dangerous. We got one hunting us! Isn't that exciting?!"
<telepathically to the group> Maybe we should attack this guy first while we can surprise it before it gets too close.
L stretches and performs his daily casting of Air Bubble, then takes time to cycle out some of the water he had been using from Absalom and drawing in new water from Castrovel.
Just a little something to bring with. To remember my time here.
He swims about inside the confines of the hydrobody and relaxes while the others prepare for the journey towards the ruins.
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The Ksarik has fast healing 2. It also has the thorn dart ability.
Thorn Dart (Ex)
A ksarik can fire one of its thorns as a ranged attack. The dart has a range of 100 feet, deals piercing damage, and exposes the target to carrion spores.
Carrion Spores Type disease (injury); Save Fortitude DC 13 Track physical; Frequency 1/day; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Effect When an infected creature reaches the comatose state, 1d10+10 Diminutive ksarik seedlings burrow out of its flesh and wriggle away. This ends the disease and deals 1 piercing damage for each ksarik seedling.
<responding to group with telepathic message>Set up an ambush?
<An ambush sounds fun! Just be careful. The thing can sling seed pods that burrow under your skin from 100 feet away! Also the thing heals super fast, so we'll have to disable it, or overwhelm it quickly. Otherwise it'll just slink off and try again.>
<So this thing is basically an animal, so to ambush it I am sure we need to provide it with some prey that it believes it can catch. Basically I think we need to give it some bait while the rest of us hide in the foliage until we think we have it lured out far enough. Bepo, you seem like the toughest of us and like to get in close anyway, and umm... the least stealthy... wanna be our bait?> Tiktik grinned hopefully.
<Telepathically to the group>Yeah that makes the most sense, I will be the bait as long as you guys hit it really good or if we can outrun it we can just leave it alone which might be the easier option but whatever you guys think is best.
Yay! Tiktik jumped up and down excitedly. Don't worry I am like 80% sure we can kill it before it kills you.
Hmm, Elliot found a spot, but there’s a body there already. So I guess we have our bait already!
What happens if the person is hurt, we need to go check to make sure its ok. Bepo is going to head towards the downed body in the middle of the clearing.
While Bepo moves into the clearing I start moving around the edge of it to find a position to cover Bepo. Using my scanner to search the area.
Tiktik follows Talek, focusing on making a stealthy approach and finding a good spot to lie in ambush. Meanwhile Elliot hovers over the center of the clearing providing a bird's eye view.
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You enter a clearing--really, a slight thinning in the density of the trees and foliage.
A female korasha lashunta is lying on the ground here. She doesn't appear to have noticed your approach.
She shouts, her voice ragged and hoarse.
Her body contorts spasmodically, and she lets out a shriek of pain.
Bepo does not understand what she is saying but will try to look and see whats wrong with her.
Talek searches the area again before stowing his scanner and readying his laser rifle. then casts telepathic message to the woman hoping she understands common, eoxian, brethdian, or triaxian.
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As you approach, she recoils, and begins shouting at you in Castrovelian.
Bepo is able to move up to her and examine her. You see a thorn, nearly 2 inches in diameter, embedded into her upper thigh.
She has a high fever, and is likely diseased, probably with the parasites from the Ksarik.
Holding his pistol loosely.
In common ”She’s warning is to stay back or she’ll attack us with magic.”
Using telepathic message in Castrovelian to her ”Be at ease. We mean you no harm. It looks as if you could use some help, may I?”
Bepo will press his hand and the Starfinder logo will show up, (subdermal implant).
In Common, We are Starfinders and we are here to help.
Elliot will maintain a look out for the ksarik approaching. Tiktik will come over to help with the treatment of the woman.
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She looks bewildered, but barks out harsh laughter when you say you are Starfinders.
"Then Devourer take you." she says shakily.
Tiktik whispers into the comms, <Elliot has spotted movement coming from the east. Get ready.>
Then he whispers to the woman, ”You’re in luck, lady! You’re gonna get to see a ksarik up close. Well, hopefully not too close.”
At hearing tiltiks warning he moves to the northern side of the clearing and looks to see if he sees any signs of movement
Whispering over coms<tiktick i thought you said elliott spotted movenent from the east, that is not the east!>talek moves to find some cover and places his hand on his rifle as the barrel starts to glow
Y55
Bepo looks at the woman and just shakes his head as he takes out his curved blade and walks up to the Ksarik.
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B-Bop sighs and shakes his head as he nimbly moves across the jungle towards the ksarik.
I'm gettin' sprockin' sick 'n tired of dis veggie garden of a planet growin' stuff dat's always tryin' ta eat us! I can't wait ta get offa dis rock an' get some sprockin' steel platin' an' artificial gee under my feet again!
Oh, you hungry? You hungry, huh? Eat some laser, ya flitz-blatzin' unhappy pineapple!
Move action, Get ‘Em on the Ksarik. Then popping a shot with the Static Arc Pistol