Flint gives a low whistle and says, "Looks like we found the studio. I wonder if there is anything incriminating on the datapad..."
Turning to Ordyt, he says, "Do you think we can spare a few minutes for Mari to hack into the datapad and see what we can find out about the Collective's operation? And if we can spare the time, perhaps we can see what secrets the bathtub fixture is hiding while we wait--maybe a hidden compartment of some kind?"
Turning to Mari, Flint asks, "Is it possible this line is to inter-bubble communications, or do you think it is just for the emergency channel?"
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"A few minutes? Cap, you wound me!" Mari says with a grin as she proceeds to get to work on the datapad. "For your other question, no idea yet, but I would hope that if we're already here that it could help us talk to the rest of the Archipelago. Anyone else worried about the lack of response to us so far? Just some busted robots in the back entrance?"
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"Very worried, yes," Ordyt says quietly as he cautiously peers into the courtyard. "Can't shake the feeling that something is going wrong just out of our view."
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”I can only hope that our multiple misdirections have the Collective thugs either trapped in Asanatown or waiting at the front door of this house for our surrender,” responds Flint hopefully, ”But we should be ready for anything,” he concludes.
Musing a bit on the situation, Flint adds, ”We can’t let them win though...They are taking a mysterious psychic event that is affecting our Lashunta friends and using it to try and wrest power from the people for themselves. They are pitting the psychic races against the non-psychic ones and imprisoning the very scientists who could help discover and build a defense against these psychic surges. In effect, the Collective are blocking the cure so the sick will remain frightened and grow hateful of the healthy. Truly evil.”
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Belmarniss looks at the decor and gives a small "hmm."
"Subtle sophistication...It's easy to see why the Collective would want to appropriate this aesthetic."
When they find what appears to be Trinipol's recording suite, her eyes light up. She immediately moves to help Marisol with cracking it.
"We're of the same mind, Flint. It's something I saw on Apostae all too often. The Boards of the Houses pitting orcs, lower-class drow, and everyone else, against each other so none of them noticed the power and profit flowing up to them. Even my parents fell victim to it. They'll never be promoted to House Rycast's Board of Directors, no matter what prestige I or my siblings obtain, but they're too enamored with the idea that they COULD to see that."
Marisol and Belmarniss set to work with the datapad. Unlike some other devices you've come across, this one appears to be locked via a multi-pronged selection of biometrics. This complicates the hacking, and at one point has the datapad reading a sample of your skin and taking a photo of your faces before you're able to fool it into accepting your data as belonging to the datapad's owner.
As you unlock the device, it becomes immediately clear that this is, or was, Zeylan Trinipol's personal datapad. A smiling lashunta woman and two young lashunta in casual clothes can be seen as the home page's background. Unfortunately, it seems that before the datapad was used as a camera, Zeylan had cleared almost all useful data off the device. The only interesting remnant is a record of digital credit transfers made in the last three weeks. A series of large sums were sent from Trinipol to a half dozen accounts, each tagged "Brass Dragons". A simple note appended to the last of those provides a succinct listing of materiel and manpower to be supplied by the Brass Dragons.
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Marisol also confirms that the data uplink in this room has access to the greater Burning Archipelago infosphere beyond just Asanatown!
”I like Mari’s idea of trying to access the communications array and getting a message to the Dawn Patrol,” says Flint, ”but I am concerned that unless we get to the Horizon House main communications hub they may be able to shut us down.”
Thinking for a moment, he gives a sly smile and says, ”I do have an idea for a distraction, though, if we can tap into the regular intra-bubble broadcasts. It may allow us to sneak into the Horizon House more easily. If nothing else, we should pre-record the distraction and the Dawn Patrol videos so when we have the ability to upload it we can do so quickly.”
”Mari, can you send our video to just the Dawn Patrol and let them know what is going on?” Flint asks. Looking over the figures on the data pad, he adds, ”It looks like Trinipol is getting quite a discount on men and material at those prices...I wonder who else has their hand in subsidizing this effort...”
Mari nods vigorously, already setting up the connection. "Just let me know when you're ready!"
”Ordyt, are there any tactical issues with doing this now—do you think the Collective can tell if we are using their comm equipment from here?” asks Flint.
If not a problem, Flint will give Mari the contact info for his boss at the Radiant Cathedral and the publicly available contact info for the Dawn Patrol Headquarters.
Not seeing a door from this room to the rest of the house, Flint asks Ordyt, ”What’s our next move, Ordyt? Back the way we came, through the courtyard, or investigate that tub for maybe a hidden passage or something?”
"Sorry Captain, I don't have any training in informational warfare. We should definitely finish clearing this building before we settle in for any more gadget wizardly."
He taps the window to indicate the courtyard. "Under no circumstances should we cross through there. I don't see any other doors though to the next wing though, so let's loop back to where we came in and take the western door instead."
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"Call me a conspiracy theorist," Belmarniss comments as they ready over Trinipol's finances, "but I suspect the reason he's getting such a good deal is because whoever's bankrolling the Brass Dragons has an agenda of their own. Trinipol and the Collective more and more look like just a means to an end, useful idiots for whoever's ACTUALLY in charge of the Brass Dragons to rule Asanatown by proxy. Trinipol only may only THINK he's running the show here..."
She thinks on how best they can get their message out to the Dawn Patrol as discreetly as possible, so they don't give away their position.
Sammad pores over the data on the finances as well, puzzled just like the others. "How could they be getting such a force for so low a rate? The Dragons aren't bottom-tier mercs...and I find it very interesting, in the wake of recent events involving the Plane of Fire, that it's a company of fire-bloods answering Trinipol's call to arms..."
"That's not crackpot thinking at all, Bel. Nobody's giving these goons a discount out of the goodness of their hearts. Maybe we'll get to ask Trinipol ourselves."
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Sammad pores over the data on the finances as well, puzzled just like the others. "How could they be getting such a force for so low a rate? The Dragons aren't bottom-tier mercs...and I find it very interesting, in the wake of recent events involving the Plane of Fire, that it's a company of fire-bloods answering Trinipol's call to arms..."
"Saints and stars, you think that psychic pulse was connected to the Breath of Embers' original owners? That they might have...triggered it somehow to set the Collective so on-edge that they didn't question when some mysterious benefactors came to offer them cheap mercs?!"
Ordyt frowns. "If all of this is being orchestrated by hidden manipulators with that kind of power, then we've really stepped in it by getting involved."
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Still tapping away at the datapad, Mari chimes in with a cheery "Yep!"
Nothing else follows.
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As you discuss the implications, Marisol works to connect the data uplink cable to your own equipment so you can send a message to the Dawn Patrol and your other allies outside Asanatown.
Marisol and Belmarniss get the link up and running. Cognizant that you might be snooped on by the Collective while using this uplink, you keep your communications with the outside world to simple text. You send two blips out, one to the Radiant Cathedral and one to the Dawn Patrol - letting both organizations know about the situation in Asanatown. You quickly get three responses back.
> Thank you for your report. We are monitoring the situation in Asanatown and will take action as the situation demands. While Asanatown is outside our jurisdiction, threats to the Burning Archipelago's well-being will be addressed by our peacekeeping officers. <
> Do not interfere. <
As you read it, you notice your device's interface lock up, rendering it almost unusuable.
Flint says, ”Great work, Mari and Belmarniss! Now we know that the true authorities are starting to take control.” His brow furrows, though, at the instructions. He seems to come to a decision and says, ”Given this request, I counsel that we avoid Trinipol if possible so the Dawn Patrol can run the negotiation, but I feel an obligation to save the DCI scientists as quickly as possible so they don’t end up being hostages...What do you guys think?”
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Belmarniss gives a curt "hmm" at the responses from the Dawn Patrol and the Radiant Cathedral.
"Noncommittal, but that's to be expected."
Then the threatening third message is read and the virus hits.
"DAMMIT!" she barks in response. "Hang on, let's clean this out."
Mari is stunned for a moment, trying to fight off the computer virus invading her integrated cybernetics. Through the confusion brought on, she does her best to assist Bel in clearing the garbage out of her systems.
Thankfully, when Bel connects her own device to attempt to clear the virus from Marisol's custom rig, she manages to keep from getting infected. It takes about a minute of the two of them working together, but they track down the infected subsystems, delete and restore backups, and reboot the rig. Upon reboot, it looks like the virus is cleared!
You decide to take the long way around the courtyard this time. Flint opens the western doors from the museum, revealing a long windowless hallway. Double doors open to the north and west from this hall, while to the south sit small alcoves surrounded by gleaming silver arches.
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As Ordyt sweeps into the room, checking his corners as the hologram flickers to life.
A recreation in miniature of the party is moving in formation when blaster fire from an unseen source begins ripping through the little group. Ordyt and and Flint go down in the first wave, and as Bel, Sammad, and Mari scramble for cover a pair of grenades rolls into view, detonating as the scenes fizzles.
Another scene materializes, this time the same little group of heroes bursting into a room where several humanoid figures are cuffed and blindfolded. As the rescue plays out, the view rotates to a scene of intense diplomacy between lashunta of the Collective and a mixed group wearing Sarenite robes. One of the Collective soldiers receives a call on the his headset. "At the Hidden House? And you're sure it was them? Okay, I understand, thank you." Turning back to the negotiating table, the Collective guard shoots the nearest Sarenite through the head. "Treachery! While these lying priests distracted us their minions attack our comrades! Kill them all!" Once again, the scene dissolves in a blaze of gunfire.
Ordyt stares at the hologram, jaw tight. As the scene ends he turns away from the party, towards the door. "Not sure what that was about. Let's go."
"Wait, what was that? Is there a possibility that trying to rescue the scientists causes the Sarenite diplomacy to fail?" asks Flint, concerned. "Or could we, by hiding and waiting for the Dawn Patrol to arrive result in the DCI scientist hostages getting killed?" he reasons.
"I don't know what the rest of you think, but I would rather move forward and try to rescue the scientists, leaving Trinipol to the Radiant Cathedral's 'diplomatic efforts' if we can," resolves Flint, adding, "That seems to fit best with the messages we received."
Sammad squints at the hologram. "Bel, could it be some sort of magic?"
The hologram buzzes as it fades. As the next person follows after Ordyt, the second alcove flickers to life.
"Thanks, Bel. I think I'm okay, but that was...horrible. Like someone screaming at me, but from inside my ears so I couldn't shut them out." Mari shudders. "Whoever made that either didn't realize what they might end up doing to a person or they just didn't care."
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Mari's rifle snaps up at the sudden appearance of the violent holograms, and she only slowly relaxes as she realizes what she's looking at. She turns away to cover the group's rear, muttering to herself about mind games.
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Belmarniss cautiously follows after Ordyt.
When she does so, the holograms flicker back into life, showing the group huddled around Marisol lying prone on the ground.
"MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!" she's screaming.
"I'M TRYING! JUST HANG ON!" Belmarniss replies, her fingers scrambling at her computer, angry beeping coming from it. "NO! It got into mine, too!"
Marisol's nose begins to bleed and she her screams turn to garbled nonsense.
"It's getting in her head!" Flint says. "Do something! You're the best at this, DO SOMETHING!"
"I...I can't..." she says as her own computer becomes unusable. Marisol's body begins shaking like she's having a seizure, until she falls limp, her eyes open in horror. The rest of the group turns and stares at Belmarniss.
"YOUR FAULT," they say in unison. "YOU COULD HAVE SAVED HER AND YOU DIDN'T. YOUR FAULT."
At this, they vanish, Marisol slowly transforming into a drow only Belmarniss recognizes.
"NO!" she screams as the vision ends.
Sammad stops short again, watching this new set of holograms play out. As they end, he turns to the others. "This can't be the future, Marisol was cleared of that virus...And Ordyt saw us walking into a fight we couldn't overcome..."
He ponders for a moment, then perks up. "I think it's showing your thoughts...these are things you worried would happen, not what did or what will."
He makes his way over to Bel, extending a hand but carefully not making contact. "Bel, it's only a trick. Marisol's fine, see?" He waves towards the sylph, then turns back to Bel and continues in a softer voice. "Everything is fine, please be calm..."
"Ugh...Why would someone want to do this to themselves...or their visitors..." Flint carefully steadies his mind to think about only positive things and follows the others down the hallway.
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At the sound of her own screams, Mari spins and rushes into the room, rifle held high. She makes it in time to see a projection of herself seizing uncontrollably and freezes in a combination of panic and confusion. For a few seconds, at least. Clenching her jaw, Mari starts searching the room for the hologram emitters, smashing any that she can find with the butt of her rifle.
As Sammad gestures toward her, Mari sits against the wall, breathing heavily from the exertion. She tilts her head toward the others, blows a stray hair out of her face, and says "I am going to beat the hell out of whichever sick bastard made this whole...thing."
"Trillidiem seems to do all right without museum exhibits that might accidentally display your nightmares to passersby." Mari sighs and climbs to her feet. She checks her rifle, adjusts her clothes, and heads down to join Ordyt by the western door. "Let's hurry. Between the gunshots and that...show, they must know we're here, and those hostages won't rescue themselves."
I'd take a shootout over more of these custom horror vids.
Marisol finds no visible hologram projectors in the hallway to focus her wrath upon, though its obvious that all of the memory holograms appeared within the arcs of the silver arches in the alcoves to the south. With the arches quiet again, you turn your attention to the western door.
Ordyt opens the way and you see a large wide open tiled room. The main doors to the south are fully open and you can see the grassy park beyond the glimmering white steps. Two marbled columns rise to the south west and south east of the room, all the way up to a 20ft high ceiling. Two sets of closed double doors exit the room to the north. Neither set appears to have any locks.
Flint stays alert with his weapon drawn (and still currently set to stun), nodding to Ordyt and waiting for his direction.
Belmarniss listens in intently and hears some muffled noise, what might be conversation, from behind the north-western door. She can't make out any details, but it sounds like there's something behind that door.
Once everyone has collected themselves, Ordyt leads the team through the western doors and into the main foyer. Orienting on the nearest set of doors, he posts up by it.
Rifle trained on the door, Faywen nods to Ordyt and readies herself.
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Belmarniss listens in intently and hears some muffled noise, what might be conversation, from behind the north-western door. She can't make out any details, but it sounds like there's something behind that door.
"Think I hear talking in the next room. We might have company," Belmarniss whispers to the others. "How do we want to play this?
Sammad whispers back, "Quickly, before they can summon reinforcements."
As he finishes speaking, he points his pistol ahead, ready to fire.
When Ordyt reaches for the north-western door leading out of the foyer, grabs the handle, and you all get ready to engage. You open the door to see a truly bizarre looking room. The floor and ceiling of this room appear to be transparent plastic or glass, revealing seas of roiling fire and plasma beyond. The resulting effect is that the room seems to be floating alone within the sun, with its incinerating fires within arm's reach at all times. Thankfully, the architects of the room didn't also try to recreate the heat - the room is of normal temperature.
Doors stud the white walls on all sides of the room, while small round tables and plastic chairs have been piled together into a sturdy barricade in the center of the room. Three Collective soldiers have taken cover behind the barricade and have rifles out and pointed toward the south-eastern door, aiming at mid-torso height.
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Marisol
Ordyt
Collective Blue
Collective Red
Collective Green
Sammad (12 dmg)
Flint
Belmarniss (8 dmg)