[dice=Physical Science]1d20 + 14
[dice=Piloting]1d20 + 19
Henri will make a point of explaining that he has a closer-than-average connection to the ship if he is able to concentrate. To that end, he will attempt to meditate to communicate with Gay Deceiver and ask her to perform some obvious task like opening or closing a hatch. After his demonstration, he exhorts them, "Don't treat her like a ship, my friends. Treat her like family."
The crew begin to examine the ship, using fairly non-intrusive scanners to do so. They're getting readings on her and making comments to each other. They know that this ship is different. She attracts a lot of attention and would no matter where she goes. Unless one of the upgrades is some kind of camouflage, that's inevitable. Verve spends half-an-hour constructing a holographic representation of G.D. while their technicians scan everything. "There," they say, privately to Henri. "We can work with the data the ship let us collect, but depending on what you want done, you might need to let us bypass some of your security protocols."
The dragon spends its turn realizing Oberon has fled and turning back angrily to face Theo.The godling runs straight at the black dragon. But instead of attacking, The Olympian will attempt to jump and flip over the dragon and run to the side entrance Oberon ran through.
"Thieves! Thieves!!" hisses Nightsky as Theo runs past. He sprays a line of his acidic spittle at Theo's back. .
Unity are immensely disappointed in their prey's near-inedibility. They turn from it in annoyed disgust and get back to their work.
Unity examine the odd vein of white rock carefully, trying to identify if there's an active portal. If they don't find anything, they try to cut out a sample with their claws and take it back to the cruiser.
The crew begin to examine the ship, using fairly non-intrusive scanners to do so. They're getting readings on her and making comments to each other. They know that this ship is different. She attracts a lot of attention and would no matter where she goes. Unless one of the upgrades is some kind of camouflage, that's inevitable. Verve spends half-an-hour constructing a holographic representation of G.D. while their technicians scan everything. "There," they say, privately to Henri. "We can work with the data the ship let us collect, but depending on what you want done, you might need to let us bypass some of your security protocols."
In public, Henri nods his approval at the technicians' care and methods, offering, "Let's discuss the suggestion of camouflage and analyze the data."
In response to Verve's private comment, "I propose you and I have a meeting on the ship so we can all discuss this. All of us." He looks at Verve meaningfully with his addendum.
Unity are immensely disappointed in their prey's near-inedibility. They turn from it in annoyed disgust and get back to their work.
Unity examine the odd vein of white rock carefully, trying to identify if there's an active portal. If they don't find anything, they try to cut out a sample with their claws and take it back to the cruiser.
Unity find it difficult to pry loose a flake, but, when they succeed at doing so, they know it immediately. For a brief moment, Unity see a flash of a dimension beyond, one that this thread of crystal seems to connect to this dimension.
The dimension, or, more likely, a pocket dimension, appears to be a long series of hives climbing from the ground and descending from the sky. The hives must be at least a mile high, because the millions of creatures buzzing around them insect-like are, apparently, chupacabra. Millions of chupacabra nest in hives, popping out of this dimension, and returning full of blood, like mosquitoes.
In the center of this field of hives sits a black, four-horned goat dressed in flowing burgandy robes, fires burning in braziers all around him. The goat-god opens wide his mouth and the flying chupacabra stream in so thick that he has to gulp them down and open his mouth again.
Unity has half-a-second to leap into this pocket dimension if they wish to fight a goat-god, but ... It's a very big goat-god.
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Unity do not leap into combat with the... goat-god. The chupacabra were patheticly weak compared to them, but not only are there millions of them here, that creature must be large enough it might well be able to fit *Unity* in its mouth. No, better to take this material back, perhaps to plan a future expedition with companions to confront this threat.
They head back to the cruiser and report their success.
[dice=Reflex]1d20 + 9
[dice=Charisma]1d20 + 1
The fails to dodge the line of acid, but finds it propels him into a pile of treasure. A huge leather belt with metal disks engraved with strange runes sits atop a pile of coins.
The side entrance the King of Coins exited through is just in front of Theo. It's too small for the dragon to get through without squeezing.
Theo's free hand grabs the runed belt as he lands on the pile of coin.
"Master Nightsky. It was a pleasure."
The godling tumbles and flips through the small side entrance.
The crew begin to examine the ship, using fairly non-intrusive scanners to do so. They're getting readings on her and making comments to each other. They know that this ship is different. She attracts a lot of attention and would no matter where she goes. Unless one of the upgrades is some kind of camouflage, that's inevitable. Verve spends half-an-hour constructing a holographic representation of G.D. while their technicians scan everything. "There," they say, privately to Henri. "We can work with the data the ship let us collect, but depending on what you want done, you might need to let us bypass some of your security protocols."In public, Henri nods his approval at the technicians' care and methods, offering, "Let's discuss the suggestion of camouflage and analyze the data."
In response to Verve's private comment, "I propose you and I have a meeting on the ship so we can all discuss this. All of us." He looks at Verve meaningfully with his addendum.
Verve takes the hint and says, "Let's go back to my lab. We will be able to look at the holographic map we've made of it. I've got a omnisium threaded paint on the walls; we can't be spied on from any dimension."
Theo's free hand grabs the runed belt as he lands on the pile of coin.
"Master Nightsky. It was a pleasure."
[dice=Acrobatics]1d20 + 18The godling tumbles and flips through the small side entrance.
The dragon roars in anger and rushes after Theo. It will take some time to squeeze through the exit made for dwarves or humans.
On the other side of the exit, Theo sees the King of Coins on Theo's horse, his own horse having been the first casualty of the dragon. For a moment it might have looked like the King was going to abandon Theo with the dragon, but he waves to Theo, encouraging him to run and leap onto the horse.
Theo runs and leaps on the back of the waiting horse. "Find what you were looking for, Oberon?"
[dice=Athletics]1d20 + 18
[dice=Acrobatics]1d20 + 18Theo runs and leaps on the back of the waiting horse. "Find what you were looking for, Oberon?" [dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 17
Theo catches up and jumps onto the horse and Oberon urges it forward.
"Not in this place, and neither did you. No one does," says Oberon. "It's a cursed place ... or blessed. Some pretty old divination and enchantment magic holds sway here. We think it's an old Dwarven stronghold. The runes above the inner arch read, 'You cannot always get what you want, but may all who labor here get what they need.' Whatever that is you're holding in your hand, it's probably what you'll need to claim a rank in the competition."
The horse carries both of you towards the arch leading back to Tarokh.
Another roar from the dragon alerts Oberon that it is through the entrance. He spurs the horse one more time makes a rude gesture to Nightsky as he appears in the sky above his lair swooping towards you.
Theo looks into his clutched hand, still holding the runed belt. "It had better. My back itches from the acid spray something fierce", Theo grumbles. "Let's get outta here!"
Theo and the King of Coins ride through arch together. They return to where they left, the stretch of land on the far side of the hills of Tarokh, inaccessible to most of the people of Tarokh, but not to the many Knights, Pages, Kings, and Queens who live in the towers and castles on top of the hill.
"There are many other gates to explore, my friend," says the King of Coins, spurring his horse. He shouts over the noise of the horse and the wind and branches. "But only Knights, Pages, Kings, and Queens get to do so freely. Why do you wish to enter the tournament of Swords? At best you come out 8th or 9th."
He is heading straight back to his tower, knowing that Theo is hurt, but does not stop talking along the way.
"Why not take a position of greater authority? My Knight is old and has long spoken of stepping through one of those gates to a place he loves more than here. He met his wife there and would return with her, leaving Tarokh, the city of his birth, behind forever, dying quietly in Elven lands. Why not replace him? Become the Knight of Coins. You've earned it today. Why risk death in the tournament?"
Unity do not leap into combat with the... goat-god. The chupacabra were patheticly weak compared to them, but not only are there millions of them here, that creature must be large enough it might well be able to fit *Unity* in its mouth. No, better to take this material back, perhaps to plan a future expedition with companions to confront this threat.
They head back to the cruiser and report their success.
Unity find the ride home a bit faster, but also longer, than the ride there. Verve, or whomever at Boston Theoretical is controlling the craft, sends Unity to the upper heights of the troposphere before plunging back towards Boston in a wide arc, constantly slowing the craft's descent until it can circle and hover over HQ before landing vertically.
A half-dozen jealous BT staff watch Unity descend from the craft. "Enjoy the ride?" asks Verve. They all grin mischievously.
"Why not take a position of greater authority? My Knight is old and has long spoken of stepping through one of those gates to a place he loves more than here. He met his wife there and would return with her, leaving Tarokh, the city of his birth, behind forever, dying quietly in Elven lands. Why not replace him? Become the Knight of Coins. You've earned it today. Why risk death in the tournament?"
"I can't go into it, Oberon", Theo smiles to himself as he rests his head on The King of Coin's shoulder. "It's a private matter. But The tournament is a way to secure a future for himself and my children."
Unity find the ride home a bit faster, but also longer, than the ride there. Verve, or whomever at Boston Theoretical is controlling the craft, sends Unity to the upper heights of the troposphere before plunging back towards Boston in a wide arc, constantly slowing the craft's descent until it can circle and hover over HQ before landing vertically.
A half-dozen jealous BT staff watch Unity descend from the craft. "Enjoy the ride?" asks Verve. They all grin mischievously.
Unity take a moment to steady themself before exiting the cruiser. "It was certainly more pleasant than, say, a burst of machine gun fire," they reply with a toothy grin."
"The chupacabras shouldn't be a problem any more," they continue, "Though we did get a sample of an odd band of stone that seemed, based on the Sword's reaction to it, to be related to how they got here."
"We also got a glimpse of a gigantic bloodthirsty goat god that was eating the chupacabras when we had a brief glimpse through a momentary portal."
"Why not take a position of greater authority? My Knight is old and has long spoken of stepping through one of those gates to a place he loves more than here. He met his wife there and would return with her, leaving Tarokh, the city of his birth, behind forever, dying quietly in Elven lands. Why not replace him? Become the Knight of Coins. You've earned it today. Why risk death in the tournament?""I can't go into it, Oberon", Theo smiles to himself as he rests his head on The King of Coin's shoulder. "It's a private matter. But The tournament is a way to secure a future for himself and my children."
"Well," says Oberon. "Then whatever that belt is, it is what you need to secure that future, such is the curse of that old stronghold. You could take it to the market to get appraised, or go to one of the Wands."
"We also got a glimpse of a gigantic bloodthirsty goat god that was eating the chupacabras when we had a brief glimpse through a momentary portal."
Verve laughs as if Unity have made a joke, sees that they haven't, and looks concerned. "A gigantic bloodthirsty goat god? Perhaps we should keep a closer eye on chupacabra infestations in the future. Henri is in the enclosed bay down there, if you'd like to see him."
Theo thinks about it for a few moments. "Eh, I'll take it to the Wands. Haven't really met those guys yet."
Verve laughs as if Unity have made a joke, sees that they haven't, and looks concerned. "A gigantic bloodthirsty goat god? Perhaps we should keep a closer eye on chupacabra infestations in the future. Henri is in the enclosed bay down there, if you'd like to see him."
"It was quite a shock to see," Unity agree. "Enough of a shock that we decided attacking it alone was a very bad idea."
"An armed flying ship seems like a much better idea for dealing with it, so talking with Henri sounds like a *great* idea!"
They nod at Verve. "We'll go see him now."
Henri and one of Verve's trusted assistants are using some free space on the floor of the bay to sketch out an installation plan, almost scaled to actual size, using it like a large chalkboard. They refer back to diagrams, then smudge out a proposed section of wiring before making a note and drawing the wiring in a slightly modified location.
Henri tells the young female engineer, "No, I'm not pulling your leg. He has this virtual three-dimensional workshop and he's recorded the characteristics of the devices that he's working with, so he can combine them in this virtual space. Trying to do this by hand - it makes me appreciate his method so much. But I wouldn't be able to share it with you even if I knew how to create such a space."
"Unity! Did you enjoy your time off? We are planning out a potential modification to give our favorite girl a better stealth profile. We may not be able to install it at this time, but if I know what I need, I might be able to obtain parts for later application."
"Well, it turns out chupacabras taste disgusting even to us, and apparently might be created by a giant goat god to feed it goat blood so... not much of a vacation, frankly," Unity reply, trotting over to Henri. "Speaking of which, how's arming the ship going?"
"Stealth certainly sounds good," they add. "It seems like you've been enjoying your time here?"
"I always enjoy swapping stories with like-minded individuals and solving problems with experts. And having some downtime to work on our girl doesn't hurt. The crystal I obtained will allow us to create a heat ray like the Martians were using, but there are so many options. We started looking at other options, like a mesh on her hull to negate sensor detection and even disappear from optical view."
"Verve made a remark about the last thing we want to do in one of these ships in a fight is to actually fight. She's probably right."
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"We like the idea of fighting that thing we saw on foot even less," Unity say. "And it needs to go." "We can't imagine anything good is coming of it indirectly devouring the blood of millions of goats from many worlds. But we do have other priorities right now."
Theo thinks about it for a few moments. "Eh, I'll take it to the Wands. Haven't really met those guys yet."
The King of Coins shakes Theo's hand after they arrive back at his tower and then sends one of his servants to guide Theo to consult the Wand on duty. The servant carries with him a letter of introduction from the King.
"The runes are giantish, I think," says the servant as he leads Theo across town. "They look similar to dwarvish because dwarves descended from giants. Not many people know that."
Tarokh is quiet. Everyone is home for dinner. It takes 30 minutes to reach a small building in the courtyard surrounding the Tower of the Wand. A young woman is on duty.
"Seven," says the servant, greeting the woman and handing her the letter of introduction.
"What have we here then," she asks after reading the letter. She points at the belt.
"We like the idea of fighting that thing we saw on foot even less," Unity say. "And it needs to go." "We can't imagine anything good is coming of it indirectly devouring the blood of millions of goats from many worlds. But we do have other priorities right now."
The Boston Theoretical techie looks from Unity to Henri and back again throughout this conversation, wide-eyed but not doubting anything either says. She is definitely enjoying the chance to sit on the working away, listening to two transdimensional superheroes talk about goat gods.
"It sounds like something off of the 'Weird Tales' channel," she says, mostly to herself.
"What have we here then," she asks after reading the letter. She points at the belt.
"The King of Coin thought you would know the attributes and abilities of this belt, miss. It may be either Dwarven or Giant in origin."
"Miss?" says the Wand with one eyebrow raised.
"He's from away, Seven of Wands" explains Oberon's servant.
"Apparently," she says haughtily and then turns her attention to the belt. She examines the runes on the outside of the belt, "The runes are giantish, but the belt is dwarven made. They read 'True strength comes from good character'."
"I have a feeling," she says. She starts flipping the belt around looking for something. Eventually she finds a way to unfold two layers of the thick metal studded leather and finds more writing inside the belt,"yes, there it is, 'lacking that, have this'. Yes, Dwarven humour 'True strength comes from good character, lacking that, use this.' Others reading the runes see only the serious line, but the warrior and his friends know about the hidden writing. It's an enchanted belt granting the wearer strength."
She passes it back to Theo.
"100 gold pieces, please," she says, extending a clay jar for Theo to deposit coins he probably doesn't have in.
The Olympian hold his hands out before him. "Okay. 100 gold coins..OR.. I take you upstairs and give you a mind melting orgasm?"
The Boston Theoretical techie looks from Unity to Henri and back again throughout this conversation, wide-eyed but not doubting anything either says. She is definitely enjoying the chance to sit on the working away, listening to two transdimensional superheroes talk about goat gods.
"It sounds like something off of the 'Weird Tales' channel," she says, mostly to herself.
Unity grin over at the tech. "And no doubt we ourself would sound like that if you hadn't met us," they comment.
Henri nods, "And when Unity says, 'We', they mean 'them'", gesturing at his multi-personality friend with sweeping motions of both hands.
"I'm just a pilot, I've heard they are a dime a dozen."
He grins, "So. How much mesh will we need to create this cloaking device for the ship? Or have we distracted you so much that you haven't calculated it out yet?"
"You're rather more than 'just' a pilot, Henri," Unity respond. "We don't think most pilots would have gone through the things you've experienced and come back for more, not to mention how you're able to work with this kind of tech hands-on."
With an obviously fake scowl, the speedster says, "Ssshh," and laughs. "I'm not the face... or faces of the team. I'm happy to fade into the background."
Looking at the Gay Deceiver sitting quietly in the bay, he says aloud, "Regarding the ship, we have options. Many of the heat-ray weapons that my crystal would empower are short-range and not suitable in a fight with another ship intent on stopping us. They could be useful on the ground, of course. Cloaking technologies can make us invisible to sensors - the better the cloaking, the fewer sensors can pick us up. There are upgrades that can toughen her hull to take a hit - I'd rather avoid hits and not rely on medieval armor - or upgrades that can make her more nimble. I'm liking the idea of her being harder to see and harder to catch. Improved sensors would mean she's less likely to be taken by surprise. Well, that we're less likely to be taken by surprise."
"We still need a weapon," Unity growl.
"While we definitely agree with being evasive and perceptive, having no weapons whatsoever seems a dangerous thing. Of course, our opinion might not be the best. We are a zookeeper and a collection of beasts, not a military strategist," they add with a grin.