Taking is time to analyze the menhir and the equations, Ray readily realizes that there are three incorrect equations on the menhir that must be solved and that he should be able to handily do so if afforded a few minutes time. He begins to methodically revise the calculations. He begins by touching one of the incorrect symbols in order to trace an accurate symbol overtop.
As he does so, however, neither he nor most of his fellow agents notice the pair of stone quorlu statues, each at the base of a large tree and each bearing the same corruption visible on the menhir, that are standing in the nearby jungle.
The sharp-eyed Aravon, however, does notice, however, that while Ray continues his careful work the once still statues have begun moving towards the menhir and the Starfinders!
A picture of one of the corrupted statues appears on the Slides.
Positions of enemies now revealed on Maps.
Emerging from the thick growth, the two corrupted statues converge on the Starfinders before Ray can complete even the first equation!
Surprise Round Begins
Corrupted Statue (red)
Corrupted Statue (yellow)
Rayburn
Impex
Aravon
Weylin
One of the corrupted statues moves closer to the Starfinders, its eyes emitting an eerie glow. Suddenly, a blast of freezing black sludge erupts from the glowing eyes.
The eyes of the other corrupted statue similarly glow as it steps out into the pathway and releases a barrage of eye rays of its own.
The glow in their eyes ceases.
Combat Initiative Round One
Corrupted Statue (red)
Corrupted Statue (yellow)
Rayburn -1 SP
Impex
Aravon -13 SP
Weylin -7 SP | -5 HP
Pellet -10+ HP
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Weylin saw the statues moving towards them as he was looking at the statue and felt the rays of intense cold washing over his body. His stamina all but vanishing as he found it difficult to move. His skin was cold as ice and he gasped. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Pellet drop out of the air and fall to the ground as his systems failed.
He looked at Ray. chattering through his cold teeth and said I..I...Th..Th..ink we need..d.d fin.finish the equations....
and he began to retrace one of the of the equations, but huis fingers were too cold and he was hampered.
Pellet was in the middle of recording the menhir when the statues moved up, She had turned to look at one of them through the single optic her fans whirling to correct her facing, and then twin blasts of intense cold had struck her and she felt the circuitry slowing and right before she fell she squawked Wey... and then there was no 'thought' as she fell to the ground inactive.
With mathematical precision, the android's digit actuators trace the corrected, revised symbols atop the erroneous ones within one of the equations, bringing it to completion.
Combat Initiative Round One Cont'd
Corrupted Statue (red)
Corrupted Statue (yellow)
Rayburn -1 SP
Impex
Aravon -13 SP
Weylin -7 SP | -5 HP
Pellet -10+ HP
The entropy within the universe and the level of chaos within any system stands at Aravon's disposal and the half-orc uses his mastery of these forces to dampen the entropic release of energy by the corrupted statues upon himself and his fellow agents.
Aravon then repeatedly attacks one of the statues . Although its hard exterior shields the brunt of the attacks, the acid makes short work on the construct.
The remaining corrupted statue approaches at attacks the nearest Starfinder.
It drives a spike deep into the dwarf!
Combat Initiative Round Two Cont'd
Corrupted Statue (red) -18 HP
Corrupted Statue (yellow)
Rayburn -9 SP
Impex
Aravon -8 SP
Weylin -7 SP | -10 HP
Pellet -11 HP
With the last of the equations corrected, the black growth covering the menhir explodes in a burst of brilliant blue light, exposing a glowing holy symbol of Yaraesa in the center of the menhir. The growth burns off of the corrupted statues, which immediately cease their hostile actions and move to take up positions as guardians adjacent to the menhir.
The sky, too, reverts to normal.
Nearby, sSarkling stone stairs lead down into a pair of sunken chambers that have clearly been ransacked. Debris from broken furniture and shattered crystals litter the floor. Nailed to the wall by a rusty iron spike is the severed head of a creature with three eye stalks, dead at least a few days. Strangely, there is no body to be found.
The abatement of the threat provides plenty of time for Weylin to tend to Pellet and transmit the recordings made by the drone to the Starfinder fleet in orbit.
"I'm relieved that you managed to cleanse Yaraesa's marker."Venture-Captain Arvin notes, when he contacts you after the recordings are transmitted. "Further, many among us suspect that the images that you captured of the symbols on the upper half of the menhir possess clues to unlocking unknown secrets of the universe. We among the Starnder Society value this data highly, even through it might
take decades for us to interpret it."
"The Reddened Eye cell of the Cult of the Devourer has continued their corruption of the magical markers that stabilize the world of Enereth-7." remarks Venture-Captain Arvin once the party is back at its peak.
"Should the cultists complete their malicious acts, the divinely wrought menhirs could fall to ruin and the entire planet could slip into the maw of a nearby black hole. Luckily, the Devourer cultists have
yet to complete their malign rituals."
"I am transmitting your next assignment to you." he continues. "You are being tasked with intercepting the ingredients used by the Reddened Eye to perform their debased rites. By acquiring replacement ingredients and swapping them with the substances used by the Devourer cultists, the Society can further delay the Reddened Eye’s efforts in bringing total destruction to Enereth-7."
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Aravon gets familiar with the transmission and nods.
"Get some ingredients and mix them with what cultists have. Seems simple enough." shares half-orc. He checks his shield for any serious damages and feeds Smiley some treats.
"That was a weird curse that can be reversed by some math formulas. My teacher was saying that mathematics can save the world but I doubt that she meant that literally."
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"Mathematics is what gives up all the other sciences, and even music and art. Have you ever noticed the symmetry of the world. There is a mathematical formula called the Fibonacci sequence that is quite amazing. Even more is it is in real life things you can see and touch. A Chicken's egg, a sea shell, a rams horn, even in most of the human's finger prints. Even the Universe and Galaxies follow it to the most part. This is why I think the Devourer is a false god....it can't fathom that the universe has a plan, and that it wanting to hasten it is just sheer arrogance. Though I hear that gods get a bit stuck in their mentality."
Ray shrugs.
"Let's go find these ingredients...though it makes me wonder what foul ritual they are wanting these items for...."[/b]
The region of Enereth-7 where Arvin has sent you to explore is a cool rain forest, albeit colored by the crystalline nature of the ecology.
The terrain is primarily unclaimed wilderness, a good distance away from any of the quorlus’ underground settlements, like that which you had previously visited. The area is inhabited by a variety of wildlife and plant life. Large crystalline trees fill the area, forming a canopy. Much of the wildlife lives in the canopy, and the ground areas are relatively devoid of creatures.
A map of the area is now revealed on Slides.
The primary task assigned to you requires that you find several substitute ingredients while on your way to the Reddened Eye’s camp. The substitute ingredients are baneflowers, nightvines, and tanisk secretions.
Venture-Captain Arvin transmits information with descriptions of each of the ingredients. You are urged to acquire the ingredients as quickly as possible.
Baneflowers contain a crystalline pollen. Unfortunately, the accessible database has no additional information about the plant.
Nightvine is a dark greenish-blue in color with large, knife-like thorns and red fruiting bodies that resemble small, soft crystals. Nightvine grows only at a higher elevation and can be found in taller trees.
Tanisk secretions can be obtained by "milking" living tanisk, tiny frog-like creatures that dwell in meandering streams. Tanisk are fragile and skittish creatures that move quickly when threatened. Tanisk are not aggressive, but their secretions are highly acidic.
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Aravon looks at his allies.
"Ok, let me try with the Tanisks"
The half-orc moves close to the bridge and attempts to lure Tanisk to him.
"Come here froggy, come here..." speaks as he begins to tap the water. As he holds the Tanisk he begins to gently coax the secretions.
"That was not that bad! How are you doing?"
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Welin tells Pellet to record all he can see in small 10 -15 second intervals to insure the trees, the frogs etc can be catologued.
Then he moves to a tree and begins to climb it looking for the vines. he scurries up the tree fairly easily and pulls his survival knife out and attempts to slice into it.
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Rayburn looks up and sees that climbing is not in his forte`. He could use the grappler though. But will wait for others.
Looking around he sees Aravon looking for the weird frog like creatures.
He heads over to the flowers....
...and realizes the danger, and quickly puts his environmentals on before collecting them.
"That was not that bad! How are you doing?"
The half-orc nimbly catches a tanisk and gently coaxes the secretions out of the tiny amphibian.
Then he moves to a tree and begins to climb it looking for the vines. he scurries up the tree fairly easily and pulls his survival knife out and attempts to slice into it.
The dwarf skillfully harvests the nightvine fruit.
He heads over to the flowers....
...and realizes the danger, and quickly puts his environmentals on before collecting them.
Having recognized the hazard, the human readily collects the necessary baneflower residue.
As the Starfinders have little difficulty collecting the three necessary ingredients, they are unaware that that they are being stalked by a pack of local predators, who move in to attack before ambushing the party!
Surprise Round
From the canopy of the surrounding trees drops a pair of creatures, each resembling an almost translucent horseshoe crab with a carapace above and sensitive parts below accompanied by a front pair of limbs that end in vicious claws!
As they plummet to the ground, the predators' claws lash out, slicing into their intended prey and preventing the crab-like creatures from being injured in the fall.
Combat First Round Initiative
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Predators (red, yellow)
Impex -3 SP
Aravon
Pellet hovered forward 5' and trained the sub zero barrel on the crab creature and the small haillike bullet flew fast and struck the crab with a globule of freezing moisture.
Weylin having sheathed the survival knife before climbing down the tree right before the creature dropped on him pulled his assault hammer and swung at the creature. and brought the hammer down hard on the carapce of the crab like creature. He shouted Pellet attack protocol
Weylin cracks the shell of the ambusher, nearly felling it with a single blow. The drone wings another.
Combat First Round Initiative
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Predator (red) -11 HP
Predator (yellow) -1 HP
Impex -3 SP
Aravon
Rayburn's shot fails to connect with his intended target.
Suddenly, another pair of the creatures drop from the canopy above, one falling on him.
Missing its prey, the creature falls to the ground with a hard thud.
Another falls on the half-orc.
The creature closest to the android continues attacking with its claws.
Badly injured, the creature that had attacked Weylin attempts to flee, scurrying up a nearby tree.
Combat First Round Initiative Cont'd/Second Round Begins
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Predator (red) -11 HP
Predator (yellow) -1 HP
Predator (green) -5 HP
Predator (blue)
Impex -14 SP | -1 HP
Aravon -4 SP
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Weylin nicks the shell of the fleeing creature while
Aravon smashes one of the attackers , nearly killing it outright. Impex, too, hits her mark .
Combat Second Round Initiative Begins
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Predator (red) -12 HP
Predator (yellow) -1 HP
Predator (green) -8 HP
Predator (blue) -12 HP
Impex -14 SP | -1 HP
Aravon -4 SP
The drone was sighting in on the creature fighting Aravon when he heard the request for aid. He fired an icy blast at the creature before answering as it hovered backwards 5 feet. A frigid ball of ice struck the creature. Be right there Master Weylin
Pellet freezes one of the creatures solid, while Rayburn's spell burns another .
One of the crab-like creatures, strikes repeatedly in an effort to carve up the android as a potential source of minerals.
A claw slices into the Starfinder!
The other remaining creature flees up a tree and attempts to hide.
Combat Second Round Initiative Cont'd/Third Round Begins
Impex -14 SP | -5 HP
Aravon -4 SP
Weylin -7 SP | -3 HP
Pellet
Rayburn
Predator (red) -12 HP
Predator (yellow) -1 HP
Predator (green) -18 HP
Predator (blue) -14 HP
Impex -14 SP | -5 HP
Aravon -4 SP
Although not particularly smart, tree hoppers work well together. Each pack is led by a male and female breeding pair that generally leap last into combat. Though ravenous, the creatures have a natural survival instinct and will flee when facing overwhelming opponents.
Pellet hovered over to get a better angle on the crab-like creature and fired a small hailstone again. The stone glancing off the carapace.
Impex causes further injury, then Aravon ends the threat of the final crab-like monster.
Having managed to defeat the predators, you are able to readily proceed with your mission without any further problem. Continuing on the path that delivered you to the area, you eventually reach the temporarily abandoned lair of the Reddened Eye cultists in the area. The lair is a partially collapsed cave that contains three containers filled with ritual ingredients.
You are able to pollute the collected ingredients by adding in the ingredients that your retrieved into each of the containers. With the job complete, you are able to safely leave the area and return to the Loreseeker.
Once back aboard the ship, you are able to have your wounds tended to quickly and effectively. Venture-Captain Arvin relays his thanks for a mission well done, and conveys that he’s already preparing the next mission for you.
Now aboard the Loreseeker, you do not have long to wait before the next mission arrives.
The communications array aboard the Loreseeker chirp to life. The image of Venture-Captain Arvin, a middle-aged damaya lashunta man, appears and begins to quickly speak. “Starfinders," begins the bluish hologram, "it appears we are not the only ones interested in this planet. Another group, worshippers of the entropic Devourer, have aggressive0ly interfered with our efforts here. It seems our successes haven’t gone unnoticed, as we’ve just have detected the launch of a starship from Enereth-7’s surface. This is not one of our ships, so it must be whatever the Devourer cultists used to get here. You must intercept the ship at these coordinates.”
As promised, data appears on the ship’s navigational array, Venture-Captain Arvin continues, “The Devourer ship must not escape the system to call for reinforcements. I’m surprised it hasn’t already entered the Drift, but it may be in enough of a state of disrepair that it’s not yet ready to exit the system. You are the only ones close enough to intercept their vessel before it escapes the system. Intercept and stop that ship at all costs!"
The hologram pauses, dramatically, then inquires, "Any questions?”
Having finished conversing with Venture-Captain Arvin, the Starfinder ship approaches the provided coordinates.
Fluctuating gravitational tides from the nearby black hole buffet the ship, though the effects aren’t damaging. As the ship nears the coordinates provided by Venture-Captain Arvin, scanners reveal another vessel in the far distance. The enemy starship remains out of weapons range as the distance closes. Suddenly, the Loreseeker’s computer systems indicate an
incoming transmission from the Devourer vessel.
The head of a smiling, black-furred creature fills the screen. She steps back and holds a harness stuffed with an eccentric variety of engineering tools and portable scanners.
With a big wave of her three right hands she says, “Hiya, nufriends! Hey, what are you doing out here by a big, black hole? My name is Ayoka. I like to take things apart but I REALLY like to put things back together. These Devourer people really like taking things apart. Right now, their ship is pretty much put together, but I’m just waiting for this Drift engine thingamabobber to spool back up. Since I got nuthin’ to do, I suppose I’ll talk to you.”
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Aravon brings Smiley on the ship and finds him some space. He packed some of Smileys things to make the journey pass. In the common space, he hangs some meet near the ceiling for Smily to eat. In the sleeping quarters, he puts a blanket on the ground which Smiley occupies during the nights, and sometimes during the days.
When the incoming transmission comes Aravon is already sitting in the gunner chair. He left his taclash and shield with his personal belongings and looks at the screen.
"They seem to be willing to talk."
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Ray nods at Aravon, and proceeds to open the comms.
Rayburn looks at the screen for a moment.....a 'skittermander' is one of the Devourer cultist. The only thing less preposterous would be if a Swarm component became President of Absalom Station....
"Uhh...hello Ayoka. Nice to meet you. My name is Rayburn Giordano, but my friends call me Ray or Geo. What is a nice skittermander like you doing working with these Devourer people? And you say their Drift Engine is spooling up? Hmm...is there anything I can do to help you--or offer to you--to help me? We really need to make certain that ship you are on doesn't leave the system. You see, we are on a mission to help this whole planet, and all the people on it. It is a VERY big job to help so many."