Rattus spies the sealed container with unusual markings and sees signs of an old document stored within it.
In the journal’s final pages, you learn that several of the scholars stationed here, and many others across Tabrid Minor, received the revelation of Drift travel. Instead of being celebrated, they were shunned and eventually executed after a failed coup attempt. The unidentified author of the journal supported this decision and outed several colleagues to the government; they justified this action by predicting that the spread of Drift technology would cause rapid, irreversible, and damaging industrialization, violently disrupting the status quo.
The final page of the journal states the author’s fears that
further conflict seems inevitable, as the Signal could not possibly
be passed off as insanity—a “Message of Madness”—forever.
Soon thereafter, Therseis approaches, "So, Starfinders, we see that you have not been slain or even maimed. Well done, securing entry to the area. Have you uncovered anything of interest?"
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D'vost picks up the document and looks at Oddman.
He wonders for a moment
"This kasatha shared only a fraction of what I can read here. Did he read it all and tried to hide it? Or maybe he couldn't understand it."
Shirren raises a finger and clears his throat, which sounds is a gurgling sound
"There is a bit more<click> in those documents.<click> The copaxis stationing here <click> were part of the upper class<class>. They worked on exploiting planets resources mostly copi.<click> They made tools and even cities <click> that float above the surface.<click> They received the signal<click> but were afraid that<click> it would change the status quo<click>. They didn't want to give up<click> their position.<click>"
He takes a pause
"They executed few supporters of signal<click> after the failed coup.<click> They knew that they can't pass the Signal as<click. message of madness forever." He wonders for a moment
The scavengers have managed to uncover an ancient weapon from the city: a pulse staccato rifle .
"A journal. Written during the fall of your civilization. It does not mention the robots... but it reveals that there was conflict even between the copaxi, about the Signal. It was not a war only with the machines."
"A journal?" Therseis says in reply. Their tone is pensive.
"There is a bit more<click> in those documents.<click> The copaxis stationing here <click> were part of the upper class<class>. They worked on exploiting planets resources mostly copi.<click> They made tools and even cities <click> that float above the surface.<click> They received the signal<click> but were afraid that<click> it would change the status quo<click>. They didn't want to give up<click> their position.<click>"
He takes a pause
"They executed few supporters of signal<click> after the failed coup.<click> They knew that they can't pass the Signal as<click. message of madness forever."
"From the historical documents that were...available...to our government indicated that the Signal, as we believe the event is referred to, was incomprehensible at first. What you have uncovered in this journal, assuming it is reliable, is difficult to...reconcile...with the possibility that those who heard the Signal had, in fact, understood it and that they experienced distress as a result of the supernatural message. If that were the case, then it would seem that those who received the Signal and understood it were...unable,, to clearly communicate the concepts they had heard, particularly to the rulers of the sky cities."
Therseis turns a blank face to the rest of the party. "Please, tell me, Starfinders. What would you have been willing to do or to sacrifice in order to attain Drift technology? How did events with regard to the Signal play out on your respective worlds?" The copaxis tone suggests a genuine interest in their behalf.
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"Long ago, my kind warred with each other. We united, but found a new enemy in the lashunta. They traveled through the Pact Worlds even before the Signal. We fought the lashunta for thousands of years, even after the recipt of the Signal. Though now, we have made peace. We too now travel the Drift and have joined greater society, chaotic as they are. It is important that we learn from the past, as to not make the same mistakes that were once made, but we cannot let our past define us."
Therseis nods to the Starfinders' responses, but says nothing more on the matter--at least presently.
The copaxi does suggest that, since it is nearby, the party proceed to the Tabantria Academy Main Campus--a location where the research team had explored previously. Proceeding to the location you find overgrown vegetation covering a sprawling campus of lecture amphitheaters, study halls, and dormitories.
magical theories, but there is nothing advanced or practical enough
to be useful.
"Our research team has already explored much of the university’s campus," notes Therseis. "Yet, our team has yet to explore the stadium." The copaxi points to a massive open-roofed stadium on the north side of the campus. "Whenever one of us would approach the arena, unbearable headaches forced us to turn back."
Heading to the north, you find the round, open arena that stands at the edge of the city’s abandoned university. Tiered seating areas once provided space for hundreds of people to observe the spectacles that took place in the large central playing field. A faded mural at the entrance to the stands depicts a dozen copaxis flying among black spheres; some of the copaxis carry short rods, and others pass fist-sized cubes to one another.
Detritus litters the outer stands, but all the litter closer to the center has been pulled into the field by ten floating black spheres, each five feet in diameter. The spheres float in erratic patterns, crisscrossing the arena in a series of ellipses. As they float and spin, debris orbits the spheres, lazily flowing from one to the next. Several intact objects float amid the debris, including a few books, weapons, and other items.
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Oddman looks around, but doesn't spot anything out of the ordinary.
Then he joins the bizarre arena.
If this somehow involves falling damage or the likes, he'll activate his Mk 1 Gravitational Harness as a reaction.
With the help of Mierway and the gravitational harness, Rattus and Oddman manage to navigate the playing field and discover that the black spheres are made of highly concentrated and graviton-enhanced copi. They recover several items of interest to their investigation and to the research team.
One is a document.
Parabolas was a game involving spheres of highly concentrated graviton-attuned copi, heavy metal cubes, and magically enchanted rods. The rods, when activated, became utterly immovable, allowing players to anchor themselves in the otherwise highly mobile playing field. The object of the game was to touch the dense cubes to the copi spheres—no easy task, even if one could adjust one's gravity, given that the spheres continuously exerted gravitational influence over one another, pushing, pulling, and throwing players (and cubes) around the arena.
Among the floating debris, you also discover a set of spark polarity gauntlets and a least z-boson crystal shard .
"What do you have to report?" asks Therseis as you exit the arena.
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D'vost do not share how drift changes shirren lives. He is not sure if story about swarm consuming everything on its way would bring anything to copaxis. For him drift was the freedom from the overwhelming presence that force shirrens to destroy and slaughter.
He shakes his head and heads towards the campus, he walks behind others knowing that he has very little to add when analyzing books and such.
But here he was, where others skipped the obvious D'vost stopped and considered.
"Have you noticed that this campus <click>has no information related to copaxis<click>. Everything here is very generic and simple<click>. I know nothing of universities but I would expect more.<click>"
He observes Rattus and Oddman playing on the gravitational field. And decides to observe the sourroundings.
Document means nothing to shirren.
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"This is just a game manual." Oddman tosses the document. "This is an ancient game arena."
Dov catches the document as the treasure it is and shoots Oddman a scathing look. "Now now, friend. Where did you do your Starfinder training? Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't mean that it isn't of historical significance! Tossing an ancient document around like that...why...I never!"
The doctor will turn the document around a few times, clearly trying to wrap his head around it.
"Hmm, interesting, interesting. It appears to be a rule book for a sport called "parabolas!"
He'll read all about it as the team walks, assuming you can still bear to hear his voice going on lecture-like...
Oddman examines the books on magic. "The ancient copaxi didn't have much knowledge of magic. Almost none."
"What makes you say that? Anything you'd like to elaborate on? We're on a team, Oddman - if you just wander around tossing things to the side that don't interest you, you're not going to find many Starfinders who'll enjoy going on missions with you, you know."
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"Have you noticed that this campus <click>has no information related to copaxis<click>. Everything here is very generic and simple<click>. I know nothing of universities but I would expect more.<click>"
"What makes you say that? Anything you'd like to elaborate on? We're on a team, Oddman - if you just wander around tossing things to the side that don't interest you, you're not going to find many Starfinders who'll enjoy going on missions with you, you know."
"What do you have to report?" asks Therseis as you exit the arena.
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"What makes you say that? Anything you'd like to elaborate on? We're on a team, Oddman - if you just wander around tossing things to the side that don't interest you, you're not going to find many Starfinders who'll enjoy going on missions with you, you know."
"The magic books are simplistic and sometimes wrong. See for yourself." Oddman grabs a bunch of them and gives them to Dov. "Don't attach yourself to materialistic things, doctor. They slow you down and cost lives. I have seen it. I have seen it all..."
He steps away. "The real books might be hidden. Kept by their higher class. We won't find out."
He steps away. "The real books might be hidden. Kept by their higher class. We won't find out."
"A compelling theory." Therseis replies. "Only hints of the old magical aristocracy remain to be considered."
The coral-like alien pauses thoughtfully or a moment, before continuing, "We copaxis have known how to manipulate the gravitational properties of copi for millennia. In fact, the hulls and engines of our starships are made of a highly processed form of copi, a sort that is mostly inert but durable, malleable, and space-worthy."
"What most copaxis do not realize, however," reveals Therseis, "is that all copaxis—not just those who lived in the cities— could once harness their connection to copi and produce magic."
Therseis appears ready to expound further, but then visibly hesitates. "We are under orders to not interfere with your investigations in order to allow you, Starfinders, to freely make your own determination regarding the petition for protectorate status." they note. "Come, there remain two other locations in the city that you have yet to investigate. Our research team has already been to each of these locations and we understand that they believe it would of...interest...for you to see each of them."
The nearest location marked for investigation is the Tabantria Market. Surveying the site, you find an open area containing scattered debris and abandoned market stalls. Scorch marks, ash, and burnt-out structures reveal that a fire devastated the area long ago.
A few metal coins lie scattered about the market. Each coin has a floating city on one side and a copaxi face on the other, with words reading “We Few Above All.”
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"While we understand you not wanting to influence us, what is your opinion of what we've found Therseis? We can remain unbiased. Several events your society's past do not reflect well upon you, but there are also great advances that were made and that are being made. Parabolas was a fascinating looking sport, and the design of your starships bears greater sharing."
"It seems there is yet more evidence of the magical past of your people in this market."
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Dov stops to examine some of the fallen coins in the market...then he does a double-take and takes out his custom microlab to get better magnification.
"Hmm...interesting! Based on the lack of weathering, patina, and mineralogical decay on the surface of these coins, I'd say these were minted in the last few years...five at the most." He turns to the others. "Curious, this? Good thing we're here specifically on a fact-finding mission to study cultural and material things, or we might have thought these coins were ancient, and thus indicative of copaxi culture at the time this market was in use!"
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"We all have some skeletons <click> hidden in our history." says to Therseis and wants to pat him on his back, but understands his mistakes and stops his hands.
"My bad."
He looks at the coins, lifting one from the ground. He looks at the surrounding
And pause for the moment.
"This market is odd.<click> I love markets<click>, so many stalls<click>, aliens<click>, money paid for the products<click>. But here there are no weights, <click> no stashes of currency<click>, no ledgers<click>. One could say that copaxis<click> didn't use hard currencies,<click> maybe they used barter.<click>" says the soldier.
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" Therseis, as you can see--and hear--we have very few social hangups dealing with AI's, magic, undead, and all that. As Mierwag has said, we would like to know what you have found or uncovered."
As they walk Eleazar is still keeping his eyes open for threats or things that others might have missed.
"While we understand you not wanting to influence us, what is your opinion of what we've found Therseis? We can remain unbiased. Several events your society's past do not reflect well upon you, but there are also great advances that were made and that are being made. Parabolas was a fascinating looking sport, and the design of your starships bears greater sharing."
"Our opinion? We believe that you have been very...efficient...in your investigation." Therseis says before adding, "If you have an interest in our starships, then you should be examine the Inter-City Transport Station."
" Therseis, as you can see--and hear--we have very few social hangups dealing with AI's, magic, undead, and all that. As Mierwag has said, we would like to know what you have found or uncovered."
"There will be time for...sharing." Therseis responds in quieter tones, before announcing more loudly, "There is still the Inter-City Transport Station to see."
Arriving at the station, you find that at least half of the city’s port has fallen away from the floating landmass in some great catastrophe. What remains is a sprawl of checkpoints, landing platforms, and nonfunctional copi-hulled transport vessels.
You also discover a stationary telescope near the edge of the city.
Spending a few minutes looking around, you observe several other cities with similar levels of destruction and instability—some completely upside-down, others on their sides, and all of them broken into many pieces. Viewing the surface of the planet, you observe that most of it is covered in sprawling, industrialized urban landscapes and massive, multi-tiered urban farms. Very little wilderness is visible.
Once your investigation is completed, you are free to return to your ship.
As the your return to their ship, you receive a communication on an unofficial channel. You discern that it is from Therseis and includes a request to discuss your findings before you make your report.
"We find this cover-up to be...distasteful," Therseis concedes. 'Yet, we find solace in the knowledge that you have an accurate view of the history of our people, the copaxi. Further, the actions that the government has sought to cover up occurred several lifetimes ago. We do believe that this excuses the government for perpetuating these myths, but, it should be noted, none of them are directly responsible for committing the atrocious behaviors that they have sought to keep hidden."
"We have done our best to dutifully fulfill our role as an agent of the government, to refrain from influencing your decision regarding the status of the petition, and also to be honest with you, if not always as forthcoming as we may have wished to be." Therseis continues.
"Whatever the decision may be with regard to the petition may be, whatever its outcome, we have one last request--one we make on behalf of this colony and not on the part of our government," concludes the copaxi. "We wish to return with you to the Pact Worlds, to your Society, and to act as an ambassador. Perhaps, one day, we may even become a Starfinder, like you."
"What say you, Starfinders?" Therseis asks.
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Eleazar will look through the telescope and notes "The planet is over populated it seems....I wonder what kind of damage they have done to it...and what they got out of running their planet to almost environmental collapse?"
Listening to Therseis's conversation, Eleazar almost meditates...letting the others voice their observations and actions before voicing his.
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Oddman peeks through the telescope as well.
Back in the ship, he opens communications.
"We found very little. You should investigate more before discrediting your government. I have seen much worse and much better than your planet, inside the pact. As long as the desire to do better exists, I care not. You are welcome to come - the society helped me leave before, as well. And someday, we should explore your oceans, and see what hides in there."
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"Hmm, interesting, interesting. These vessels have neither clear means of propulsion nor piloting controls! I would estimate that this shape is too elegant to be even remotely aerodynamic, though it is quiet pleasing to the eye. I believe that magic was used, both to propel and steer these craft."
Dov will take a moment to look through the telescope as well.
Dov will softly grumble to himself about his observations, but because he remembers that the motto of the society the Starfinders are built on is "Explore, Report, Cooperate," he makes sure to share what he noticed to the whole team, telepathically , even if others don't seem interested in that last part.
The doctor will also remain quiet once the communique from Therseis is received, letting others lay their thoughts bearbare first.
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"I think the Starfinder Society would welcome you Therseis, as it has welcomed me. Perhaps, working together, we can convince your government to acknowledge their past. I do not think we should hold what your ancestors did against you or them though."
"We are pleased to hear this of your Society. And, perhaps, you are right." Therseis replies, hope evident in their voice. "Though a single polyp holds little sway, many form an entire, functioning body."
Listening to Therseis's conversation, Eleazar almost meditates...letting the others voice their observations and actions before voicing his.
The copaxi glances at the undead. Despite the lack of features on their face, they seem to be almost...smiling?
"We found very little. You should investigate more before discrediting your government. I have seen much worse and much better than your planet, inside the pact. As long as the desire to do better exists, I care not. You are welcome to come - the society helped me leave before, as well. And someday, we should explore your oceans, and see what hides in there."
"Your...understanding...is appreciated." Therseis replies. "We sincerely hope that the various colonies of your Pact Worlds feel the same."
The doctor will also remain quiet once the communique from Therseis is received, letting others lay their thoughtsbearbare first.
"Thank you again, Starfinders." Therseis says. "Undoubtedly, we will be in touch following the decision regarding our world's bid for protectorate status."
The copaxi signs off from the comm channel, leaving the Starfinders to contemplate their individual reports regarding Tabrid Minor’s bid for protectorate status.
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Oddman reports that the petition should be accepted, but notes that the population has a bad history with synthetic organisms. They should be required to start working on that. He also states that there are no significant threats in the places surveyed, but a deeper research of the underwater creatures is vital, in the near future.
Therseis has Oddman's approval to come on board, alongside the robot and the two criminals.
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D'vost eyes the Therseis and shares shortly
"My people were part of the swarm<click> and the signal let us break free from it.<click> We consumed tens of worlds<click>, slaughtering endless lives of aliens.<click> We all have our past<click>, but it is the future that counts<click>. I spoke with your scientists and you seem<click> like a different bunch<click> then the ones covering those atrocities.<click> I believe that being part of protectorate<click> would allow your whole planet to be better.<click> I also don't mind you coming with us<click>, universe is amazing and everyone should be able to experience it.<click>"
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With your recommendations received by the Stewards, you are free to depart Tabrid Minor along with the sentient robot Less Than Three.
Following your return to the Pact Worlds, Venture-Captain Arvin seems rather pleased with your handling of the missions. He notes that Major Tower-9 of the Stewards had indicated that Society may be called upon again to help out the organization.
Less Than Three is very grateful for your kindness. The robot, excited to be off world, sets off to explore the wonders of Absalom Station and, eventually beyond. Sometime later, you receive an offer of a modest financial reward from a representative of the Android Abolitionist Front. They assure you that they will help Less Than Three find a healthy and urge you to accept the reward for your service.
Not long afterward, you learn that a handful of copaxis are trying to join the Starfinder, the result of many copaxis spread word of the Society’s good judgment.
It's clear that you've had a positive impact on a number of beings, all of which were once strangers. No doubt, in a galaxy of this size, you are likely to run into a few more such "strangers" in the future!
