”Wait. Who’s advancing sexy churls? Somebody traaaanslate!” he whined.
I believe there may be some cultural differences in attracting prospective mates between your cultures B-Bop. I do not believe her statements were meant to be complimentary.
Speaking aloud in common, "Ok, first off, that Frankenberry was for our guest! Second, the "Devourer" she keeps referencing is not a pleasant thing. It is the god of the void and death, super evil. I mean maybe they have kinky sex rituals, but probably the kind that mantises have, where she bites your head off when she's done. Let me try to get through to her. Can one of you translate?"
"Hi, I'm Dr. Tiktik, M.D. I have heard a bit about your god. Do you wanna go meet him now? Cuz if you don't eat something and let me patch you up, you're gonna. Personally I would think that he'd rather you do a bit more unmaking or whatever here first. Ya don't wanna come off as lazy to your god, do ya? So why don't you tell us how you came to be here, and maybe we can help. For all we know, we might be going to the same place. And you can be all tricksy about it if ya want. We'll probably even believe ya. We like helping people. But I should warn you that we've gotten weirdly good at killing people who try to kill us."
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Jax gets up from his rest, still keeping himself aware of all that's gone on. The whole time the others were chatting to the woman, he'd been keeping a sharp eye on her. "I'm beginning to think we should've just pressed on and left her here. That dame is too much trouble it seems." Jax says to himself.
"If she's accompanying us, I'll be keeping a close watch on her. Not sure I trust this one."
Jax takes out his fire arm, and activates it, holding it up in front of him so she has a clear site of it. Jax also looks at her while doing so.
"Best not be making any sudden moves, beautiful."
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The next day passes without much event. In the early afternoon, Talek spots a Moldstorm--a short-lived event where large numbers of Castrovel's numerous fungi release massive quantities of spores at once--and you are able to take shelter and wait out the pinkish-grey clouds.
That evening, you set up camp.
,
Tiktik talked the poor woman's ear off as he changed out her bandages. He knew she couldn't understand him, but he was happy to have a captive audience regardless.
In Castrovelian ”It would seem our little friend has made some progress in removing the disease from your system. It sounded like a pretty nasty way to die, and unnecessary. You are putting us in a dangerous position though. Your lack of cooperation is making it hard to trust you, same with wishing harm to my friends. This world is dangerous enough, and I’d rather find more allies than enemies. Is there any way you could find it in your heart to work with us?”
Happy to finally have their guest talking to them, Tiktik happily chatted away. ”Nah, who cares about the tent. We’re exploring! What can you tell us about this place? Have you been here before? It’s super neat! Lots of angry plants keep trying to eat us!”
As an after thought he added, ”Oh and if there’s anything you can tell me about those seed thingies growing inside you? I might be able to treat ya better with a little feedback.”
Tiktik shrugged, "I dunno, people try to kill me everywhere. This place at least is super interesting in the way they go about it! So what did you come her for if you hate it so much?" he leaned in closer and whispered, "And what happened with the rest of your group? Did you really eat them? Was it to appease The Devourer?" then got even quieter, "What did they taste like?"
Meanwhile, Tiktik will attempt to aid Talek with the navigation (along with Elliot continue to offer the bird's eye view).
that is the story of my life as well. It has been lively here but after living on Eox it could be much worse.
It would be nice to be in a place that the plants are not trying to kill us.
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The woman smiles but it fades when Tiktik asks about what brought her here.
"Let's just say I've made some bad decisions in my life. Financial and otherwise."
Talek continues to guide the party well. From conferring with the notes, he knows that tomorrow the party should be reaching The Plague Warden--Zan's name for a large statue of an elf, riddled with disease.
The day passes without anything trying to kill you.
I do not think there is a single member of our group that has not made bad decisions at some point in our lives. We probably would not be traveling together if we had not made of those bad decisions
Tiktik nodded enthusiastically after Talek’s comment. ”Oh yeah big time! I helped some bad people do bad things. But then I met all of these Starfinders, and now we get to be heroes! You should try. It is surprisingly rewarding. I mean it feels all nice and tingly in my whiskers, but also look at all of the neat stuff we have now! A month ago I had to scrounge for every meal.”
Is there anything that we can do to help you with your current situation. If you need help finding someplace to go or if you need work maybe we would be able to help you find some.
Tiktik giggled and nodded excitedly. "Well of course there is. I told you. We're super good at killing things that try to kill us. C'mon let's hurry up and find it! Each time it gets more and more interesting!"
Tiktik starts aiding Talek in his navigating and encourages their guest to help too.
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I will admit being apart of the Starfinders has its perks. I basically get to do the same things I used to do.... well, with a few exceptions, but now have this organization behind my back so when the going gets rough, let's just say shooting some guy has purpose now. Ha ha!
As far as backgrounds go, bad decisions is a job requirement in my past field of work. Though I'll say a Starfinders life for me just doesn't have the same ring as a Pirates life for me.
Do you know what is up ahead? It would be most beneficial if you could give us any details if you do.
I can understand your reluctance to discuss your former associates, and had they displayed loyalty to you in return it would be deserved. I would like to think we would prove to be better company than your former associates. even if, as you have said, you have made mistakes in life there is a place in the universe for all of us that can say the same. the Starfinders have proven to be an excellent source of excitement and resources as well.
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Wait a sprockin' minute! So yer part'a da slitch-sog crew dat kidnapped da perfessor and been tryin' ta gronk us ta a pulp on da trail? No way, lady, I ain't got no sniff ta get a motel room wit' you now dat I know dat no matter how hard ya try!
Hope yer happy now, abandoned by yer crew an' left fer dead. An' now ya gotta deal wit' knowin' yet chance wit' dis prime hunk'a pork chop has sailed away! Hmmph!
B-Bop stomps away and scratches his posterior indignantly.
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So it seems you're left with a choice darlin'. Seeing as you were left for dead, by right, the all beautiful and deadly Besmara would have nothing to do with you and leave you to rot where you lay, but you could also take the hard path of redemption and revenge and take back your pride from those that stole it from you. Only then could you truly be saved.
Jax's voice becomes more stern now...
So the choice is yours once we find your friends. Join us in the fight to come and take back what's rightfully yours, lower yourself to them once again and turn on us or worst of all, do nothing.
Oh, and as for the pork chop, you'll find there's more 'exotic' cuts of meat in this galaxy. Jax says with a wink.
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She seems to take all this in, but says nothing further.
The evening passes without event, and you pick up travel the following day.
By about mid-day, you believe you've reached what Zan referred to as the 'Plague-Warden'.
The trees thin ahead, forming a broad clearing centered on an immense stone statue of a reclining elf whose skin bears dozens of raised markings like painful welts. The figure rests on one partially buried elbow while extending its other hand toward the sky. The elf’s simple robe and hair are both sculpted of heavily weathered metal that has corroded entirely in places. Numerous crumbling outbuildings ring the clearing, where only mosses and a few stubborn, stunted trees grow.
Overclock
Elliot
Volter
Talek
Beppo
Jax
B-Bop
L
As they approached, Tiktik asked their new friend, ”So, since you’ve mentioned that you expect us to catch up to your old friends, and last time we almost caught up they shot at us and tried to get us trampled... Is there anything we can do to keep an eye out for them, and maybe even avoid a conflict? Like a signal maybe?”
Talek approaches the area and exits the jungle into the clearing scanning the area for threats and moving into cover as he does so.
Tiktik sends Elliot ahead to fly high over head to scan for ambushers.
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As Elliot rises up to scout out the surrounding area, a loud crack rings out over the clearing.
Overclock
Volter
Talek
Bepo
Jax
B-Bop
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sniper
?
??
A bullet strikes Elliot, causing it to totter slightly as it flies over the battlefield.
Overclock
Elliot
Volter
Talek
Bepo
Jax
B-Bop
L
Everyone but Bepo spots a shirren, wielding a sniper rifle, pearing out through a hole in the head of the elven statue.
Bold can act!
Talek
??
Shirren sniper
B-Bop
Bepo
Volter
Overclock
Elliot (-14)
Jax
L
Unnamed Lashunta companion
?
Seeing the sniper in the eye talek moves to a better position of cover from the sniper before leaning out to take a shot at the sniper. Azimuth laser rifle
Sniper, in the eye of the statue
Tiktik moves up into cover and fires his rifle after spitting it into his hands.
At the same time, he issues a command of evasive maneuvers for Elliot.
Full round action to run, ending behind the wall, hopefully with cover, but still Flat-Footed until my next turn.
Bepo takes runs forward zig zagging around to the head of the statue.
Jax double moves to get into cover next to Tiktik
Talek peeks out from his cover, fires a shot at the sniper, and ducks back into cover.