[SFS_Aerondor] 01-17 Reclaiming the Time-Lost Tear (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Rising from her chair, First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo proclaims, “Ah, these are the agents I spoke about! Starfinders, may I introduce to you Ulyapses, a new friend from the Vast.”

A massive, sixlimbed alien rises from its chair, barely avoiding a collision with the ceiling. She clears her throat, and in a deep, bellowing voice begins, “I am honored to stand in the presence of those as accomplished as you. I am Ulyapses, and it seems our past and your present have come together.”

As she speaks, she retrieves a holographic projector from the folds of her simple robe. “This is our history,”

Ulyapses continues, gesturing to the images appearing from the projector. Over the next several moments, the projector displays an advanced society of creatures shaped like Ulyapses laboring under an opaque golden sky. The creatures toil with obvious dissatisfaction, creating monolithic tributes to an unseen entity. At times, the shield fades, and in these moments the aliens quickly turn to the frantic design of rockets, starships, and other methods of leaving their world. Each time, the aliens fail to pierce the golden sky and must return to their toil. As the playback accelerates, the images speed past a myriad of failed escape attempts before suddenly slowing as the glimmering shield winks out of existence. As the barricade vanishes, the subjugated aliens swiftly escape aboard their highly sophisticated starships. The images then show the aliens arriving upon a fertile planet. They bury the majority of their ships and load the remaining few with relics that remind them of the world where they had been held hostage. A small group of custodians flies these ships, laden with reminders of their grim history and other technological advances, to a nearby, heatblasted moon. On the newly settled world, the aliens live a peaceful, agrarian life for generations. Suddenly, a short golden obelisk descends from the heavens, igniting panic among the people.

With obvious sadness, Ulyapses shuts off the projector. With a tremble, she stammers, “Your brothers and sisters wait trapped behind the same barrier that once imprisoned us—Luwazi calls it the ‘Godshield.’ For us, escape took many generations and considerable luck. For you, perhaps, we have another path. We call the golden relic deposited on our world the Tear. We fear it heralded a return to our captivity, so we quickly deposited it on the same rocky moon where we sent our unnecessary technology and unpleasant reminders of our past. We call that facility the Repository. Perhaps the Tear is a key, or a beacon. But if it has answers, we don’t want them.”

Ulyapses collapses back into her chair with a thud. Elsebo steps forward. “We have permission to access the Repository and claim the Tear, on the sole condition that we take it far away from Ulyapses’s people and never bring it back. The key to pierce the Godshield awaits, and the Society needs you to retrieve it.”

The space-jock takes in the display with her intense steely eyes gaze.

A pair of hip holstered semiautomatics feature mother of pearl grips inlaid with a pair of dice showing the 'one' pip, and the handle of a combat knife protrudes from the shoulder straps of her functional looking tacti-cool backpack. Her graphite coloured bodysuit appears to be carbon skin with depictions of vipers on it in darker tones.

"Thanks for the brief Ulyapses, what can you tell us about this Repository? Also a bit of information on the surface of the moon and any hostiles."

“The moon is orbiting Izal-4, in the same system as the adopted planet of us izalguuns. It’s blisteringly hot and has virtually no atmosphere, but clay in its crust acts as an insulator that makes subterranean chambers habitable. Generations ago, the we built a vast, interconnected network of silos and storage facilities underneath the moon’s surface.”

She thinks a bit further.

"We izalguuns have been dumping technology and unwanted relics—godgifts, we call them—at the Repository for some time. However, most of us know very little about the Repository, as it was the purview of custodians to store and study the materials sent there. I know which silo the Tear was sent to, but nothing more— communications with our custodians stopped decades ago. I’d be prepared for anything: advanced technology, radiation, or even strange magic.”

"How secure is this facility? Don't suppose this is an easy trip where you hand us the keys and we are in an out in short order..."

A damaya lashunta with a row of pistols strapped around the belt of her D-suit watches the projected images in fascination. Maybe, finally, we're really getting somewhere! She tries to temper her excitement when she sees how obviously upset their guest has become from reliving her race's history. She bows her head slightly in greeting. "Thank you for sharing all of this with us, Ulyapses. My name is Remi. I'm sorry your people have been through so much, but I hope we will be able to gain something important and help you be rid of it at the same time."

She listens carefully to the description of the Repository, but can't help feeling that she's missing some of the cultural background to the situation. "Who were these custodians? Were they from among your people? Do you know why they stopped communicating with you?"

Remi also looks to Luwazi Elsebo to confirm: "So when we find this Tear, you want us to bring it back to the Lorespire Complex, yes?"

Ilyapses nods "They were indeed. Maybe they died, or maybe their coms failed. We don't know, and really, we just want to make sure the artefacts are well away from us."

Luwazi nods "Yes, get the tear, and bring it back to Absalom."

A shirren, who will introduce themself as Bugface, stands among the gathered Starfinders in what appears to be mismatched armor. Most of the armor is a golden color but the left arm is bare metal. Upon closer inspection however it becomes clear that Bugface's left arm isn't armored at all, it is simply a mechanical replacement. Bugface is strapped for a fight if necessary, packing a rifle, a pistol, a sword and a few grenades.

Telepathically Bugface comments, {Oooh, relics from behind the Godshield. This should be interesting.} Belatedly Bugface realizes that the previous comment may have been a bit callous, {Um, yes. It is unfortunate that your people had to work so hard to escape.}

I like to warn people that you will be reading the word Bugface a lot. Bugface does not like pronouns. It didn't come up much here but you will see.

A tall non-sexuated android, with yellow lights under dark synthskin, and both hands glowing with faint light rushes in, a little late, and glances around the room.
It is wearing a simple stationwear flight suit, with the jacket and tags of head of security for PANGEA, as well as an Acquisitives patch on one shoulder, and an Obsidian Spiders one on the other shoulder.
It has a Starfinder Insignia pinned to its chest pocket.
A pair of 7-inch-diameter metal disks, perforated with intricate abstract patterns and with a circular hole in the middle, are placed in hip sheathes: shotalashu singers.
The android takes a few moments to get up to speed...
Will post tonight, sorry, quite busy atm

Viper gives a knowing nod to her fellow 'Obsidian Spider'.

"Suppose that we're just going to have to work it out when we get there"

Pangea salutes Luwazi, and bows to Ulyapses.
Before following the presentation intently.

The android admires dice motif guns, and then answers her knowing nod.
It also smiles and nods at Remi.
"And hello, Mr./Mrs. Bugface."

Pangea starts typing away a message Ulrikka Clanholding on its Comm Unit, to have some armor delivered.

{Nice to meet you Pangea-Beta. Please, call Bugface Bugface. Bugface is neither a mister or a missus. Bugface is not a he or a she, either. Most importantly, Bugface is not a nameless part of The Hord, Bugface is Bugface.} Even though it seems Bugface has given this speech many times Bugface is chipper throughout it.

A black-cloaked figure, removes his hood, revealing a face of pale-blue, artificial skin. Glints of circuitry can be seen through it as he nods and then speaks. "Greetings. I am..." The android pauses for a moment as if concluding a few calculations, then simply introduces himself to Ulyapses by stating, "I am Sev."

"I am most curious," he states flatly, "as to the nature of your society's relationship with what you have termed broadly as 'technology' and, also, 'godgifts'. It would seem that your society seems to have gone to considerable length to distance itself from valuable tools and other advancements that would undoubtedly enhance your production and comfort."

If discomforted by this observation, the body language of the technological life-form gives no indication of it. He continues, "Inquiry: In light of such apparent benefits, why would a society, such as your own, choose to forego such products of progress and ingenuity?"

When a more moment appropriate moment arises...

The android turns toward Remi, his face actuators contorting to resemble something almost akin to a smile. "Remi of Castrovel, it would seem that more than mere coincidence is responsible for our joint assignment on this mission."

Despite many similarities, the words and movement of the android Starfinder appear somewhat less mechanical than when the lashunta had first met him. "I have, most recently, been analyzing and... considering... our initial excursion to the planet Elytrio."

The android pauses for a moment. His head cocks to one-side, a characteristic that he had routinely exhibited during the prior mission, but had not displayed until now. "My duties within the Society recently compelled my return to that world. The state of affairs that I encounterdd there did not align with the probability analysis that I had projected."

He noted, attempting to avoid spoilers.

"It is a fair question." acknowledges Ulyapses. "We as a society have made a decision to step back from higher technologies and embrace a simpler existence. Among you there are those who are fascinated with technology and those who look more to their inner self. We have seen the destruction that technology can bring, and are... weening ourselves off it."

Any final questions, or last minute preparations or purchases?

Remi agrees with Viper: "We don't have much information to make plans, so we'll just have to improvise when we get there."

No further questions.

Remi lights up at Sev's comments. "Oh, I'm glad to hear you went back! I did hope the Society would be able to follow up there. You'll have to let me know how it went, sometime. I enjoy a good surprise ending." (I have another character playing through that one right now, amusingly enough!)

"It is a fair question." acknowledges Ulyapses. "We as a society have made a decision to step back from higher technologies and embrace a simpler existence. Among you there are those who are fascinated with technology and those who look more to their inner self. We have seen the destruction that technology can bring, and are... weening ourselves off it."

"An unusually... binary... way of thinking." Sev replies, flatly. However, if the android desires to expound upon his conclusion, he gives no indication.

Remi lights up at Sev's comments. "Oh, I'm glad to hear you went back! I did hope the Society would be able to follow up there. You'll have to let me know how it went, sometime. I enjoy a good surprise ending."

"I will, of course, provide you with the data that I have obtained." Sev responds. "There are, indeed, both 'surprises' and 'endings'."

No more questions re briefing.

Once Beta receives the delivery from Ulrikka Clanholding, it discovers a disembarkment jumpsuit with reinforced breeches, heavy boots, and a thick jacket. It puts it on instead of the flight suit, as well as adding its own gear: a utility belt at its waist for the sheathed singers, a helmet, and a couple of grenades are strapped to it.
Beside his Starfinder Insignia, he has attached a serum of healing and a medpatch.
"In case of emergency", Beta says, pointing to them.
Strapping a Starfinder backpack on, Beta is now ready to go.

You are ushered aboard a starship and away you go. Drift travel is uneventful and you are..
[dice=days]5d6[dice] days later in the system and heading toward the moon.

The directions provided are fine, and you locate the silo in a crater indented into the lunar surface. You can see a dome at the bottom which you were told should open to allow artefacts to be deposited. However there is no opening when you arrive. With no real option you disembark and head towards the manual entry.

The door there is large, as expected with izalguuns. The airlock luckily does open upon command. Within there is a large chamber and an old stairwell that leads down into darkness.

Steep stairs curve around the interior of the cone beneath the silo, descending to a small platform that overlooks a smog-shrouded region below. The platform ends with jagged metal and torn struts, obvious clues that it once anchored a bridge to an airlock across the cone, dozens of feet away. Only a single small ledge remains in front of the airlock. Next to the airlock is an unlit computer terminal.

Put yourselves onto the map and let me know what you want to do.

Viper jump jets across to the ledge to see what is going on over at the terminal.

No TOUCHING, just LOOKING ;p

"One should look before one leaps..." Sev cautions Viper 6, "Or, more precisely, when one activates directed thrust to propel one's self over an unexamined precipice."

Sev draws back the hood of his cloak and looks around, taking a visual inventory of the area in order to analyze the probable cause of the bridge's structural failure.
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6
20 if an Engineering check

Remi steps cautiously onto the platform and (assuming it doesn't immediately collapse under her) leans over to take a slightly closer look at the smog. "Is that natural fog, do you think?" She instinctively speaks in a hushed tone.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

{Bugface really doubts it.}

Bugface plugs into the computer terminal to see if it has power or is just turned off. If it turns on Bugface checks for any counter measures.

Computers: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

"I will...", the android stops, and looks at Bugface: "Pangea-Beta will go over check the other end."
Pangea walks over--
--and hopefully arrives, and peers down... and then loos around.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Pangea has trapspotter @ 10 ft.

"One should look before one leaps..."

"I never fly faster than I can see, and besides, it's all in the reflexs"

Jetting across to the airlock causes the mist below to swirl around in an uneasy manner. Tendrils reach upward sometimes, only to drift away when they get into any ones torch light.

It is pretty dark, so how are you all seeing. Androids obviously have little problem, at least close up.

Viper can see a terminal asking for a pass code.

Which you could try to bypass with a computers check

There is a narrow ledge that one could try and balance on if one were keen to not use up all their jet fuel.

Sev has a look around, but apart from the mist hiding whatever is at the bottom of the silo and the twisted metal of the end of what was once a bridge, he sees nothing. Meanwhile Remi nervously eyes up the fog. It doesn't look especially natural. I assume everyone has their armour environmental protections up at the moment. But if you don't... well you might be able to sniff the fog.

Eyeing up the terminal, Bugface wishes he could get to it, but unless he can fly or wants to climb around the edge... he is going to have problems.

The metal stairway groans under the weight of Pangea and his armor, but holds. At least for the moment.

I thought the terminal was by the door we came in, my bad. I could almost reach it with wireless hack. I suppose Bugface, who is a host not a he btw(it's weird though so a he in a description is no biggie) has been using blindsense(30 ft). I will turn on a flashlight though. Speaking of Blindsense...

Bugface clicks pleasantly when Bugface hears Pangea-Beta refer to themself in the third person.

{Sounds like we better take the stairs one a time.} Bugface feels out to see if there's anything moving down in the fog.

Bugface senses nothing in particular in the fog below. At least nothing that causes a vibration in the thin atmosphere...

Pangea will move back until it sees a place that seems more sturdy, where the metal groans less...
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
The android will also see if anyone turns their lights on, and, if they do, Pangea will turn its armor's flashlight on as well, to help.

While nervous, Pangea can't spot any immediate danger... yet.

That mist looks darn creepy though.. Tendrils creep (or maybe just blown by Vipers jets) ever closer to the bottom of the ladder.

Viper shrugs and gives the computer a crack "I'll try the usual..."

Computer 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Viper manages to hack the terminal and the airlock slips open - revealing a corridor beyond. But how are the rest of you going to get across?

Viper looks inside the door for any obvious signs of danger (or danger warning signs!), confirms to herself that her D-Suit seals are in fact all sealed, and activates her radiation badge.

She then looks for any way to anchor he titanium alloy cable to help begin building a safety wire for others planning to cross.

00:01
A short set of stairs to the north and another set to the south flank this hall. At the west end of the hall stands a massive metal storage locker. Debris and trash are scattered across the hall.

Maybe the locker would be a good place to secure the cable?

As Viper activates her badge it beeps loudly.

And now is a real good time for everyone to make a Fort save. The save is DC 17, and you can apply adjustments for radiation to it. If your armor is level 7 or higher then you don't need to make the save. Lower level armor gives a +4 bonus on the save.

That sucks - I get stacks of bonuses vs poisons toxins etc but no mention of rads

Fort 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14

#yay :(

{Bugface will try out the stairs.} Bugface activates their energy shield and heads down into the mist.

Fort save+Duskmire Allegiance bonus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

9 temp hp from the Energy Shield. I forgot to add armor into that fort save but it passes anyway.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 4 = 21

Remi experiences a brief wave of nausea but it passes. "Ooooh, Bugface, be careful!" She wracks her brain for anything familiar about the mist below.

1d20 ⇒ 18 (+9 Mysticism, or +6 Physical Science... not sure if those apply.)

She looks around to see if there's anything on this side that would be stable enough to fasten a cable and support a person's weight while crossing over.

Pangea is happy that the armor on loan from Ulrikka Clanholding seems to keep the radiation out.
The android is about to get across using the cable... or its own jets.
But, seeing Bugface start climbing down: "Don't be foolish Bugface! Come on, climb across here..."
Beta starts moving down the stairs, not willing to let Bugface go alone, but motions Bugface to come back up.
"Come on, Bugface, Pangea-Beta will not let you go alone, but Pangea-Beta does not want to go down there."

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Sev sees the others putting in effort in securing a cable. As he does so, he casts flight on himself. "May I be of some assistance?" he offers as he flies over to the others. "I can also cast the spell upon on another, if you were to consider it helpful."

{Hmmm, Bugface thinks that falling to the floor would be worse than walking across it. But your confidence in Bugface's climbing ability is convincing. If Pangea-Beta is nervous about the floor Bugface will stay with you.}

Bugface stops and is ready to climb across on the cable.

"Pangea-Beta thinks Bugface shimmies well!"

Beta will try to pull itself across the cable.
Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

00:02
The stairs down finish at the tangled ends of where the bridge was secured. While the silo continues down into the mist, there is no evidence that there was ever stairs that led down there.

Everyone... well.. everyone apart from Beta starts to feel the initial effects of the radiation. Nobody more so than Viper however.

On the good news front, while the metal of the stair groans a little when folk bounce on it, it does seem strong enough to secure the other end of a line to.

Everyone apart from Pangea takes 7HP of damage from radiation exposure. Viper, you are also further affected, taking a -2 penalty to fort saves, con checks and CON based DCs.

Status
Viper 29/34HP; Radiated(weakened: -2 to CON related stuff)
Pangea (armor sufficient to make immune to radiation)
Bugface 29/36HP
Sev+ 33/40HP
Remi 29/34HP

Pangea peers down the corridor--
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
--and, seeing how its companions look a bit off, is a bit disturbed.
"Must we act as fast as we can? I can go in front if you wish..."

A short set of stairs to the north and another set to the south flank this long hall. Each set of stairs terminates at double doors, although the doors to the north swing audibly on neglected hinges. At the west end of the hall stands a massive metal storage locker. Debris and trash are scattered across the hall.

"Check the broken doors to the North first?"

Ouch, straight to HP!

"Yes, let's press on as quickly as we can," Remi agrees. But before following him to the north, she pauses to look at the storage locker. "Let me check in here first. Maybe they have radiation suits or something." She inspects its door carefully, but swiftly.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

If it looks safe, she'll try to open it. If it's locked, she'll take out her thieves' tools and try to get it open.

Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

{All good ideas.}

Bugface waits to see what Remi finds but is ready to pass through the broken doors.

The locker seems to be locked, or stuck. However with a bit of enginuity I just make that word up! she gets it open. Within are brightly colored geometric containers, many containing what appear to be large toys made of silvery plastic.

Looking through the doors to the north your torchlight pieces the darkness in narrow bands. You see ruined linens lying scattered about this partially flooded room. A steady stream of brackish water washes out from under a door along the area’s eastern wall and drains into cracked flooring near double doors to the south. A huge, nest-like structure dominates the western half of the room, comprised of shattered furniture, shredded mattresses, and several torn pillows. A

Culture 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Those aren't toys, they are antiques. These as typical gifts given to expectant izalguun mothers. Now rare and valuable" Viper asides, looking rather off colour and not her usual chipper self.

[b]"What is building nests down here?'[b]

Did part of that post get cut off?

Culture+1-13: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

{Indeed, Bugface bets Ulyapses would love to see these.}

Culture, w/1-13: 1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 5 = 18

"I do not see how the age of an item would necessarily alter its purpose." Sev says in response to Viper 6. "Are the objects somehow no longer suitable for... play?"

Spotting the nest and noting that his magical capability for flight is limited, Sev flies forward to investigate, remaining well above the brackish water.

How tall is the room? Sev will try to stay about 15 feet above the water.