The group rigs up a pile of explosives, and amplifies it with magical heat. The makeshift bomb blows another big hole in the bulhead, splattering the swarm all over the place.
The camera, covered in soot but otherwise undamaged, swivels again, and the intercom springs to life: krrrrk! What are you doing here? krrrk! a voice says, betraying a hint of fear Do not hurt me!
I'm sorry for the defenses. I need to protect myself here. I'm glad you mean no harm. My name is Dolain. Please come up to the bridge.
The doors to the bridge open.
The ship’s damage extends to the portside of the bridge. In a bank of three large monitors, the one on the left is broken and partially covered by a glowing crystalline structure spreading from a bed of crystal in the debris scattered along the portside. A handsome, ethereal man standing before the controls in the bridge glows in a luminescent pastel purple color. His toes barely brush the ground as he hovers with his palms exposed in peaceful gesture. His furrowed brow expresses wariness and his voice betrays mild irritation as he speaks, “You are clearly capable, and as clearly desperate. What might you need from my precious home that you are so inclined to demand by invading it?”
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“Your home? Oh, I’m sorry Dolain, I confused it with a pile of garbage and scrap metal from the outside - you might want to consider a paint job! I am Modern Body, leader of this Starfinder Society expedition, and we are here to explore the unusual, the bizarre and the ludicrous - I’m guessing this situation falls in with the later. And we are not desperate - this place wouldn’t be standing up if we were.” Modern Body falls down on a chair, preferably the captain’s.
“We crossed a portal in Vesk-8 and ended up here, while the staff in charge and their load of perfectly expendable criminals remained safely behind. What’s your story? And please be brief - I get bored easily and there’s only so much hours of air in our suits.” he smiles.
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Kaixik waits for Dolain to share his story to the group, if he chooses, before chiming in.
"It is truly a pleasure to meet you Dolain," Kaixik begins, bowing slightly. "Would you happen to know a way back to Vesk-8? We wouldn't want to overstay our welcome in your home, and Modern Body's point about our environmental protections being limited is quite true."
Alright , that explanins a lot. Dolain responds when faced with an explanation by Modern Body. I agree, we need to get you off this moon as quickly as we can, so I can repair my defense. The creature seem undequal parts concerned and irritated, with irritated winning out for the moment.
When Dawnfriend starts cleaning up, some of the irritation goes away and he interjects oh, that's really friendly...
Dolain explains, “There’s a kothama hermit not too far from here who might be able to help. They’re a star shaman, and likely to have some kind of power to get you all back through your portal. It’s difficult to pull their attention away from the stars, but if you do, they might be your only chance to leave Traverse. I can give you their location, but I take no responsibility for you getting there.”
It is clear from the creature's body language that it is unwilling to provide further information. It may still be possible to convince it, though.
This ccreature is a lucandrian, lunar fey that cultivate magical powers related to refracted light, gravity, or other lunar powers.
The light-emitting crystals are moon crystal, not shimmerstone.
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"Attaboy, Dolain! Do you need anything done in return, or will our leaving be enough? If you have a datapad somewhere around I can send you some bootlegged copies of my speeches on "self-improvement when you don't want to rely on anyone else - polymorph yourself on the outside and the inside" - seems right up your alley." Modern Body taps him on the shoulder.
Ma'ha! That's right, this is moon crystal. Do they not shine bright? Dolain seems delighted at the knowledge of Af'val. Af'val also realizes a single moon crystal is sufficient to provide about half a week of environmental protections. This is my little garden, I gather all kinds of crystals here.
Not quite all kinds, though, he definitely does not have a sample of shimmerstone.
Dolain is quite delighted by the politeness of Kaixik, and seems to glow a little brighter: “I was almost as shocked as I am to see you all now when Mathun came to scavenge parts out of my home. We talked a bit about moons and stars, and their wisdom was incalculable. I let them take whatever I didn’t need. We have been friends since, although I go years between seeing my friends.”
To Modern Body, he says Thank you for your help. The systems on this ship are broken, I'm afraid. Maybe somebody with technically savvy can lap them up. It's going to be hard to keep on living here. This place is falling apart - that explosion did it no favours either - and you guys have dismantled all of my defense!
Dolain further offers: “I never bothered to wonder what Mathun is doing here. They adore the sky and its stars, and they live where they can see them. Like myself, they likely live here because they can, they’re so rarely bothered, and it’s a lovely moon with a lovely view.”
Finally, the creature provides some directions to the hermit, clearly marking the way on a datapad.
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Angus digs in his pocket, and pulls out the piece of shimmerstone he grabbed just before jumping through the portal on Vesk-8, and asks, "Dolain, would you like a piece of shimmerstone for your collection?", as he holds it out.
"Also, I would be willing to see what ship's systems I could restore, if you would like?"
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Dawnfriend nods approvingly to Angus. "That's very helpful of you." He has done quite an effective job of tidying up the ship, as best he can.
As they head in the direction of the hermit, Dawnfriend says, "I cannot wait to meet this star shaman nufriend. I bet we'll have a lot in common, since I worship Sarenrae, and think the stars are all very wonderful, too."
Oh, you are too friendly! Dolain says as it receives the crystal and the repairs. Let me see what I can do to repay that
Dolain scutters around a bit and comes back with five flares, a grappling gun and an odd-looking helmet.
[b]For your trip, be ready to do some climbing, and find the entrance of a cave that was once a nest of source (). You also need protection from the cold - your suits already help, but this helmet is better.
While repairing the ship's systems, Angus stumbles on a computer record that shows the ship originally comes from Gaskar III
Gaskar III is a planet most notable for being home to exiles, including the “renunciants,” who are vesk who reject the Veskarium’ ideals
The system holds a ledger of goods and provides their quantities and encrypted names of potential recipients.
Many of the goods recorded in the cargo bay, most notably shimmerstone and starmetals, are heavily regulated by the Veskarium, and this vessel doesn’t seem to have the proper permits to transport them. The logs also contain records of the ship’s final days.
First, a haughty captain brags how they have just fooled Vesk-7 officers by faking their own destruction and slipping away to the dark side of Traverse to repair their broken ship.
The following logs story the captain and crew’s descent into panic and eventually resignation to their fates as they discover that they don’t have the materials to repair the ship for flight again, and they are running out of power to refuel their life support systems. The final log describes a desperate final effort to explore the gateway cavern for a way to activate the portal.
Then there is the heavily encrypted 'trade' folder...
While most names are unrecognizable, the list contains various contacts throughout the Veskarium planets. Checking the current record for hull contents reveals that there are substantial quantities of illegal goods currently onboard, all of which passed through Vesk- 5 and Vesk-6 before the ship met its fate on Traverse.
The information condemns the leadership of several other Veskarium officials. This is especially so of Vesk-5, from which the starmetals appear to have been acquired, and Vesk-6, where they were apparently able to rest under the tall treetops of the jungle during their smuggling runs.
As the group is about to set out, Dolain says, Wait! The first part of the route contains a dangerous canyon, let me help you cross it!
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A chasm cuts a deep scar across the landscape. The slick edges threaten to plummet the unwary to the bottom of the fifty-foot-deep crevice. With the help of Dolain, it is easily crossed, since the creature has the power of flight.
This is as far as I will go! Good luck on your journey! Dolain bids the group farewell.
A little further, a gaping hole in the side of the hill descends into a small cave system. Even the faintest of sounds reverberate through the ground and off the enclosed walls.
There is a pitch‑black entrance to a cave system that takes the group beneath the hills. The tunnels are 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall and form a labyrinth of dead ends.
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“This is a contraband ship? This information will probably be quite valuable to Jularaz the Frozen! If he asks nicely, that is.” Modern Body doesn’t quite care about Vesk politics, but wants the employer to put in a good word with the society.
“I think you should use this, vanguard.” he tosses the helmet to Kneepuncher.
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“Thanks, Dolain!” Modern Body waves to the fairy while it’s leaving. “Man, those loners. They talk a big game about being by themselves, but when someone shows up, they bend backwards to please. Hilarious.”
Modern Body analyzes the cave.
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"I can help put a marker, too..." He raises his hand and points at a small pile of rocks, which slowly change color to a bright orange that matches his fur. He picks them up and slips them into his starfinder backpack. He continues to help provide light with his flashlight, lantern, and glowing hand implant, with a staff in two hands and holding one of the rocks in his final hand. "That's a real basic spell, so these will only stay this color for an hour ... Hopefully it won't take longer than that."
Modern body looks at the cave system, and is quick to conclude that this was once the home to a diatha colony - now abandoned. There are no signs of recent activity, and only dwindling numbers would have caused the colony to abandon this place.
Armed with that knowledge, navigating the winding caves is actually quite logical.
Upon emerging from the caves, there is a flat plane of ice obscured by apparent fog. A billion microscopic ice and rock fragments float in complete stasis, like a dense opaque fog. The sharp fragments cut like a million icy needles, and glisten blindingly.
Even with environmental protection, this type of haze can be quite harmful (Dolain's helmet offers complete protection, though).
Dawnfriend manages to make a lot of progress through the haze, until Angus leads the group slightly astray, an oversight that is fortunately swiftly corrected by Kneepuncher and Kaixik. Without wasting too much time in the cold, the group makes it across. Despite the quick progress, some of the extremely cold haze has managed to work its way through the armor of the group, causing some minor freezeburn
The silhouette of two spires and a large beast, snout turned toward the stars, looms on the edge of the cliff. The rocky face of the cliff stretches upward.
The cliff is challenging to climb (), though it should be possible to secure a rope at the top. A rope just like the one Dolain has provided to the group.
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Doing his best to shake off the cold, Kaixik looks at the cliff face with some concern. Fortunately Modern Body makes it to the top and secures a rope. Kaixik grabs the rope that Modern Body secured and begins to climb.
"Thank you for the rope, Modern Body! I'm not sure if I could make it up this cliff face without it."
Climbing up the cliffside becomes a lot easier when a rope is involved.
A smooth platform carved into the side of the icy lunar hill provides the perfect viewing spot for the speckled sky above. A kothama, an eighteen-foot-tall creature with voluminous white fur, sits at the edge of the cliff, gazing up at the stars. The kothama’s hefty snout turns with great effort from the skies, like an ancient oak attempting to bend an old bow. The stars still appear reflected in the depths of their four black eyes. A maw of teeth and tusks opens to speak in a low, soothing voice, “You appear to be seeking me in particular. Explain, for I grow nervous of what you intend for me.”
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Angus climbs the rope.
Turning to the kothama, he says "We came through a portal from Vesk-8. As we understand it, that portal shouldn't be working for another half of the planet's year. Now the portal is closed, and we are ... concerned about how we will return to Vesk-8. We would also like to understand why the portal is activating now."
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"Greetings from the Starfinders of the Pact Worlds, wise one," Kaixik telepathically projects as he bows in greeting. "As my companions have said, we seek a way off of this world in order that we might return to our own. We were sent to you by Dolain, in hopes that you could assist us. He sends his regards as well.
"Is there anything that we can do to earn your trust and assistance?"