Julkashatil shoots out the brains of the remaining goblin!
With the goblins defeated, you can freely explore the cavern and find a large door. The goblins' tools, explosives, and other gear is scattered haphazardly about, available for you to use in opening the door....
...but what is behind the door?
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Kastien picked bits of goblin skin and hair out of his glove, then closed his eyes and breathed as he slowly released the pent up graviton energy. As the darkness around him dissipated, he whispered a few words under his breath, then opened his eyes.
"No, Chorizal. I hit him like he was endangering innocents and my friends. It is the way of the universe that some must die that others may live. In Universal theory, there is only one evil, and that is selfishness. It is the way of the goodly sophont to choose when to kill to protect others, and when to lay down his life. A Seeker can spend his entire life learning the fine variations of stellar energy - the balance between fiery photnoics and cold, heavy gravitons - that walk the line between a good person and one that simply uses his strengths for venal purposes."
"Now, while I am happy to sit and discuss Universal theory and the Way of teh Seeker for hours, it seems that what is behind that door may be of more immediate interest to us and our viewers. Shall we?"
"It looks like we might be able to break it down safely, with a little help from those tools there and a few strong backs. Frank,
Julkashatil, and Chorizal would likely be better suited to the task, but I will aid in any way I can."
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"I can sense your resolve and it bolsters my own. I only wish they were more in tune with our emotions and we could have resolved this with a lesser quantity of violence. Given their rage and bile I can understand that was impossible here. However your own description of this duality of combat to protect and through the veil of stellar energy sounds like a wonderful idea for a new work that develops within the periphery of my processes. I agree with you though that subject, along with others, should follow passing through this door."
Abistar-4 approaches the door and attempts to get a read on the structure and holds his hand to the structure and, after a moment of focus, tells the camera, "The barrier stands resolute against us and I feel no inclination to open easily for our passage. While it is a passive opposition we must see it move to proceed. I shall lend my strength, but Kastien's account of the situation is accurate."
The android tries to find room at the edge to offer any chance at aid as he is able.
Wazasha turns to the cameras. "Having defeated the goblins--or, as the local dwarves insist--the 'short orcs', our heroic team has discovered a mysterious door in the middle of the cavern filled with poisonous gases. What will we find here? And will they manage to open the door?"
Zo! gestures to the studio audience watching this show live. "The audience is getting restless, Wazasha! They want to know what is behind that door as well!"
In the studio, the audience is shouting,
With Kastien's aid, Frank manages to bust the door open with brute Dwarvish strength!
Wazasha and the film crew rush in ahead of you. "We have to film your reactions, sweetlings!" Wazasha says.
A few minutes later, you enter. The door exits onto an elevated walkway that runs along the length of a horizontal cylindrical space that's several hundred feet in diameter and that extends as far as the eye can see to the right and left. At several points along its visible length lie heavy doors like the one you've opened.
Most notably, though, you all spot a digital terminal near their door, its display glowing with strange alien text that quickly cycles through various forms before stopping on Common.
Simulation #20,553
Dwarven Quest for Sky
Planet Golarion
Circa –4,900 Absalom Reckoning (simulation local calendar approximation)
Status: Simulation ongoing.
ALERT: ERROR! Immediate repair required.
ERROR! External influence detected.
ERROR! Control measures enacted.
At a second glance, you can see that each of the doors along this huge gallery have a similar terminal next to them, suggesting there are untold numbers of other simulation chambers sustaining other artificial worlds within the moon.
Wazasha turns to the cameras. "Are you seeing what we're seeing, Zo!?"
Zo grins, his jaw gaping open. "If you mean soaring ratings, then YES!"
As the chamber's sensors detect the toxic gas and begin venting it out of the Quest for Sky simulation, Wazasha signals to you. "This is a perfect cliffhanger to stop filming. Let's have you quickly assemble for one final action shot, posing together like victorious explorers as the poisonous fog billows past you!" The camera crew snaps dozens of pictures for promotional purposes.
"Let's also hear your thoughts on all of this!" Wazasha says, dragging each of you into the Booth one last time.
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"What do you think of all of this? This simulation, those poor dwarves, and all those other doors, stretching on and on? What do you think this means? What purpose could it possibly serve?"
“But do you think aliens did it? Does this change our understanding of the galaxy's history?”
"Has this journey changed you in any way? Have you discovered new things about yourself along the way?"
"Do you have anything to add or say to me, Zo! and the Studio Audience?"
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Kastien moved through the open door and stared in wonder at the hallway lined with other, similar doors. Then, he turned and saw the digital readout and gaped some more.
"Does this...does this mean that there are at least 20,000 more areas like this? Simulations of some sort? But for what purpose? This is...vast. Monstrous, maybe. And yet...and yet something pulls at me to try and understand. A large network of ongoing simulations regarding the motives behind sophont actions could be an attempt to understand the universe. It stirs the Seeker in me to want to know more. I wonder if it would be possible to be on more Starfinder missions to this place? I think I would like that very much."
"And more you shall have, Kastien! That's the spirit!" Zo! says. Then he turns back to the audience.
Zo! chants and claps, encouraging the studio audience to chant along with him.
“What a discovery! What a destination! What a band of unlikely heroes! What could lie deeper in Salvation's End? Find out on the next episode of Live Exploration Extreme! when the Starfinder Society returns to—”
“What?” shouts Luwazi with alarm from near Zo!'s microphone. “That was not part of our deal, Zo! You can't just add a sequel when we haven't—”
Zo!'s voice insistently cuts back in. “Ha ha! And now a word from our sponsors!”
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★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
"What do you think of all of this? This simulation, those poor dwarves, and all those other doors, stretching on and on?"
Well, it is a fascinating structure. This explains the unusual density and gravity. Though not my field. I just dig the holes. I let other build things like this. Though I know this Nuar and a Witchwyrd that might want to poke around.
"What do you think this means? What purpose could it possibly serve?"
Bah, most likely more deluded folk. But I am not the people person.
“But do you think aliens did it? Does this change our understanding of the galaxy's history?”
Aliens? We are all Aliens to someone. And History don't change it just is. Well there is the Gap, the history is still there, we just need to find it.
"Has this journey changed you in any way? Have you discovered new things about yourself along the way?"
It was a nice change of pace of not spending months our year in a hole. I kind of like this retirement. Low stress. See the sights, meet new people. Once again, the misses was right. The Starfinders can keep me busy
"Do you have anything to add or say to me and the Studio Audience?"
If you are stuck in a hole. Just keep digging, you will always find something.
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"Uh-huh," Chorizal says as both Kastien and Abistar lay a lot of philosophy on him.
He is distracted enough by it that he misses the door being opened. "Haw! Haw! Haw! I couldn't have done a better job myself. Well...I could have but I didn't so it's a good thing you did it."
He is content enough to wait for the camera crew to get through. That's what they're here for, after all and he swaggers through as soon as they indicate that they're ready.
And when the time for posing comes, he balances his laser over his left shoulder and holds his right hand up, brandishing his gauntlet clad fist menacingly.
"Savin' the best for last huh?" he asks as his turn finally comes for the booth.
"What do you think of all of this? This simulation, those poor dwarves, and all those other doors, stretching on and on?"
"It means that the Pathfinder Society got an even better deal than they knew. This ain't just a moon full of resources, it's a moon full of people and technology and history. Never would have thought Luwazi was such a canny negotiator. Haw! Haw! Haw!"
"What do you think this means? What purpose could it possibly serve?"
He shrugs eloquently. "Not sure. Maybe it's just some big video game or an experiment. Or zoo. I do feel like I been here before, though."
“But do you think aliens did it? Does this change our understanding of the galaxy's history?”
"Of course aliens did it. A god would have done a better job." He scowls. "I don't know why it would change what we understand of history. It's just one moon. I do somehow feel like I been here before. And I'm definitely going to make history here." The last is said with odd self-reflection.
"Has this journey changed you in any way? Have you discovered new things about yourself along the way?"
"Uh...yeah...I've gotten more awesome. I guess I discovered that a boring guy with a stick up his tail and an old dwarf with a bad attitude ain't so bad."
"Do you have anything to add or say to me and the Studio Audience?"
He flashes a grin at the camera. "Thanks for watching! Tune in for the sequel!"
"And I'll see you later," he says to Wazasha, giving her a broad wink.
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Jul, of course, tries for the LEAST heroic pose that he can manage in the group picture, deliberately hunching down, looking small, etc
"What do you think of all of this? This simulation, those poor dwarves, and all those other doors, stretching on and on? What do you think this means? What purpose could it possibly serve?"
"Some rat f#$# sick little bastards decided to play lots of games. Probably the Azlanti. I've got nothing against conquering people and taking their stuff but playing with them like this is just wrong. We need to figure out who did it and pay them a lesson"
“But do you think aliens did it? Does this change our understanding of the galaxy's history?”
"Got to be the Azlanti. They're the only ones twisted enough to do this. I dunno a lot about history. Ask one of the melon heads"
"Has this journey changed you in any way? Have you discovered new things about yourself along the way?"
"Don't be a f$&%ing idiot. This was a cakewalk. Learned that the universe sucks even more than I thought before"
"Do you have anything to add or say to me, Zo! and the Studio Audience?"
"You are all a bunch of losers and should get a life! Get off your ass and experience things instead of watching a view screen. D%*@$eads"
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Abistar-4 takes a long moment to process the vast room and the display. He seems stuck on what emotion this should inspire as he face ticks between various minor expressions.
The moment passes though and he takes his position within the line up taking a pose staring out above the camera, hand held aloft.
"What do you think of all of this? This simulation, those poor dwarves, and all those other doors, stretching on and on? What do you think this means? What purpose could it possibly serve?"
"I contemplate if this could be a museum of sorts, with these residents and others as exhibits. In any case this is a poor treatment of every being contained within. Their emotions are being toyed with and that should not be tolerated."
“But do you think aliens did it? Does this change our understanding of the galaxy's history?”
"There isn't enough data to note who created this prison, but it was likely some race outside the Pact. Much information has been lost prior to this and shouldn't disrupt anyone greatly, but this does serve as a reminder to continue to keep our minds and souls open."
"Has this journey changed you in any way? Have you discovered new things about yourself along the way?"
"I have found that I'm still at the mere beginning of my journey to connecting to others via feelings. I have learned more about friendship, courage, and their use in standing against those who would disrupt joy and happiness."
"Do you have anything to add or say to me, Zo! and the Studio Audience?"
"You may look forward to my upcoming piece that I shall publicize to the Absalom Station infosphere."