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Ratatat's plasma disintegrates the top half of the remaining undead. As the undead fall the noise to the south grows louder as a heavy object shifts away from the door allowing it to open.
A small robotic figure moves forward on two mismatched sets of automated tracks. A powered pike weapon and a rifle lies strapped across its back.
“Greetings newcomers. I am known as K.A.N.T., and I am one of the surviving construct-folk of Lumina Colony and leader of this salvage operation team. Welcome! I apologize for the state of our home. As you might have surmised, there was a horrific biological outbreak here many years ago. Since then, the surviving inorganic citizens have moved to the other side of the asteroid, where we’ve setup our new home.”
The other robotic beings following K.A.N.T. let out a unified cheer at this explanation before their leader continues.
“Are you here from the Pact Worlds? Have you been sent to finally save us?”
Delea (SP 28/28 | HP 28/28 | RP 2/5)
Gamuzali (SP 27/53 | HP 47/47 | RP 7/8; Resistance Piercing 5; +1 AC to round 5)
Zargothrax (SP 29/42 | HP 36/36 | RP 6/7)
Ratatat (SP 31/40 | HP 37/37 | RP 6/6)
Dr. Morvius (SP 35/35 | HP 34/34 | RP 4/5)
Shokil (SP 22/36 | HP 30/30 | RP 7/7)
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Also keeping his weapon in hand but not pointed at KANT, Ratatat says, "Well, huh. This is unexpected. To be honest, it's been, what? Over a hundred years since contact was lost with this place. To be honest, knowledge of this colony has been lost and we, uh, sorta kinda accidentally stumbled upon this place and are now seeking to find out where we are, what happened here, and how to return.
"But if your story checks out, of course we'll do what we can to bring you back... amirite?" Ratatat directs the last 'amirite' towards his fellow party-members.
Ratatat then displays his Starfinder badge implant to KANT and continues with questions, "We're Starfinders but like my friend here said, we know little about this place, who started it, how it came to be, what was the purpose and so on. Please bring us up to speed. And by the way, what does K.A.N.T. stand for?"
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"Oh... erm... ah guess that's our job right? Git as many of ya outta here offa this rock as we can. Not like we were given much info 'bout what we were gonna find, but seems like a good thing ta do. Jus ta let you know, the Venture Captain out front is really grumpy. Like... all of the time grumpy. Hrmmm.... D'ya know if there's any stuff on that console to seal this place off 'gainst more zombie hordes? Or any see-cure-it-tee that'll blow mah head off when I try to poke it?"
He waddles over to the console in an attempt to do what he can to protect the party and their newfound robot friends.
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"Hello, KANT," Gamuzali says, echoing his companions. "I am glad to see that you and your associates here were not harmed by the horde we've just had to wade through. As you can see from our insignia, we are Starfinders, the same organization that once operated this particular facility. We originally came here to investigate and seek answers about what has happened to this world. We would be glad to assist you, though, if there is any possibility for us to do so."
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Around six other robots follow behind K.A.N.T. "Correct, this is indeed an asteroid. “We call ourselves the Scraps, since we’re the scraps of what is left of Lumina Colony. It’s a little humor. We try to be funny, because what’s happened to us has been so tragic! We are the surviving inorganic settlers of the colony. We survived by making a new settlement on the other side of the asteroid and by siphoning off power from the colony’s backup generators!” This prompts cheers of happiness from other SROs.
“I was leading a salvage operation into the colony; we routinely check the area for pieces of equipment and such that the settlement can use. We recently detected a power signal here so we came to check, but it appears the sanguis were also attracted!” This prompts the SROs to seem afraid.
While the group talks Zarg gets to working on the terminal. The data logs contain basic data regarding the sanguis gelida outbreak and the history of the Starfinders on Lumina Colony but Zarg uncovers a fair bit more, though the text is a bit mangled.
“We͞’̶re ͘de̕p͢ar͜t͢ing̴ ̡to i̴nvęst͘igate̵ a̧ ̛se͜t̢ o̵f ruińs b̕èl͘ìev͠ȩḑ t͠o̕ b̶e r̶e͡la͡ţȩd ͘t͝o ̴th͝e ͘cl͟ergy̢ of҉ Ur̡gatho҉a in a͘ n͝e͞ar̵b͘y ͘st̡ar sy͝s̵te̕m. ̢T̨he m͟iss͞i̷on̨ ̸l͘óo̧ks̛ ͠li͟ke ̶it s̷h̵ou͏ld̴ b̴e ̸a st͝a̷n̢dar͘d̴ la̸n͝d ̢and ͘i͠nv͘e̛stigat̡e s͢i̧tua͠t̸io̵n̸. Lo̶ok̛iǹg f͠or͢ẁa͟rd t̸o re̷t͢ur͜ni͘n͢g̴ ̢t̷o̕ A̡bsa̡ĺom St̷a͘t̷ion̢ ̡a͟f̨ter th͏i͏s l̢a͏te͜st assig͝nm̴én̴t͏.̀”
“We’re departing to investigate a set of ruins believed to be related to the clergy of Urgathoa in a nearby star system. The mission looks like it should be a standard land and investigate situation. Looking forward to returning to Absalom Station after this latest assignment.”
“͢Em͠erge̸n̢cy ̷r̛ep̵o̕ŗt.̛ ̧W͠e’re̕ t́ak͘i͢n̛g ͞a͟l͏l̕ t̵he ̀m̵e̷d͜i͟c͢a͜l s̛upp͡li̶es͟ t̢h͜a̛ţ we͏ ҉c̶an; ͜in̛clu̢ding̶ ̀the͏ s̵eru͜ms a̶nd̷ sṕel̕l͞ ҉ǵe͢ms. W͟e̕ th͟i͢n͠k ̴w͢e ̨ca͜n̢ he͝a͝l T̕eb̕s ̴be̸f̀o͜re͝ w͟e ret͠u̢r̸n̶ ̶to ̕t̵he̡ Lo̶r͠espi̛re҉,́ ͟b́ut̢ if͘ ̀nòt͠… we͠ n̵e̵ed ̕to tr͠y̶.҉ ҉We ͘h̀a̸v̡e͟n̸’t͢ ̴tol̛d an͢y͟o͞n҉e ̡a͞bout ҉ẃh̡at ̧ha͠p͏pe̴n͡ed͏.͞ ͡W͡e ̡di̵dn’t ͏h͞ave t͝ìm͡e̴ ̕to͡ cǫme d͢own ́a̷n̴d r͝et͢urņ,̶ ̸s̨o ̵we ̷b̸r͠oug̨h͠t Teb̀s ̵w͝i̴t̸h ̷us̨ ͘to a͝dmini̧ster the̡ m̕edic̛in͝a͝l items͟.̡ ͜He̷re’͡s ̶h͠opi͞ng tha҉t̶ it̕’̛s̸ eno̢ugh͘.̡”̡
“Emergency report. We’re taking all the medical supplies that we can; including the serums and spell gems. We think we can heal Tebs before we return to the Lorespire, but if not… we need to try. We haven’t told anyone about what happened. We didn’t have time to come down and return, so we brought Tebs with us to administer the medicinal items. Here’s hoping that it’s enough.”
"̴I̴nfíl͟tr̸a̕ti͘on̸ ̕t͞eam͞ s҉uc͘ces̕sful̨. W̕e̢’҉ve f҉o̴llow͏ed ̶F҉i̶r̨st S͟e͠e̵ke͘r̕ ͞Le̕zosk’s oŕdȩŗs̨ and i͏ns̛ta͘l͡l̀e͜d t͞he d̴e҉v̛ice ̧i͜n ͏t̷he̛ ̨o͏ĺd͘ ͞stora̕ge̡ h͜aņga͜r̀. Fơl̸lowįng th̢a҉t̨,̡ ̴we͟ ҉termi̷n̨áted̵ ͝th̨e̛ ̴St̵a̢r̡finder͝s ̸iǹv̸ol̀v̵e͟d wi̵t͝h ͠th̡e in̶itia͝l ̨i̧nf̀éct͠i̵o͜n w͟h̷o͠’͢ḑ been̕ a̶c̕t͡ing ̡as͘ ̵ou̢r̵ ͟guídęs̴ wiţh̀in ͠t̡he ̛colony. ͘We̛’vé ͡left ͡an̸ en̡c̡oded͜ ̸repor̛t h̀e̶r͝e ́i̵n̨ case͜ we e͡nc҉o̢u̵n͡ter trouble̴ on th̴e̢ ͞r͞et͟ur͞ņ ̧t̶o A͘bsal͡o̢m Stat͟io̸n.͞"
"Infiltration team successful. We’ve followed First Seeker Lezosk’s orders and installed the device in the old storage hangar. Following that, we terminated the Starfinders involved with the initial infection who’d been acting as our guides within the colony. We’ve left an encoded report here in case we encounter trouble on the return to Absalom Station.
It appears that the Starfinders left behind a deadly pathogen that killed an entire population center on an asteroid trade colony. The colonists linger on as undead, as does a deadly mutation of the plague that killed them.
K.A.N.T. Seems confused when asked for his names meaning. "Should it have a meaning? I suppose it could mean Knowledge-based, Accurate Natural-language Translation if you wish."
At the mention of you being Starfinders and showing your insignia the SRO's begin to grow quite afraid as they shake their bolts.
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Zargothrax looks over the reports and scowls. "Erm... Morvius... might wanna read this... I'm a gonna say that at least some 'o this calamity looks like it mighta been purposely... as part've a see-why-ey sorta thing. Prolly the work of a few bad apples, but as mah grandpappy usedta say, a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Ahm a thinkin that this was so long ago that there prolly aint nobody left to punish, but we definitely gotta try ta make amends."
He stands aside so his companions and new friends can see the display before adding. "...and if pree-sent venture-doohickies dun wanna at least try ta fix this then ahm prolly not gonna be a starfinder any more after this..."
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Shokil nods at Zarg's words.
"True, true. Though how much truth there is in these words that were recorded so long ago... and why we were sent here... there are mysteries. None of which really is relevant to K.A.N.T."
He turns to the inorganic-citizen. "We may have a way back to Absalom station, but it might also not be very safe. "
Glancing around at his companions he adds "I think we'd be willing to take you there if you wanted to go.."
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Seeing the data logs and the SROs' reaction to the party being Starfinders, Ratatat says, "Woah, woah, woah! Guys!"
Ratatat makes a big show of stowing away his weapon.
"It sounds like you've had some bad... and I mean really bad... experiences with Starfinders what? Over a century ago? Look, we ain't those guys. Things have changed. And truly, our intentions are good here. We come in peace! Amirite?!?"
Turning to his teammates, Ratatat says, "So..... lemme get this straight. There was a colony here. A team of Starfinders came in and infected the populace with some kind of disease or, dare I say it... bioweapon? Then Starfinder leadership covered it up by sending in a second armed team to erase all evidence by eliminating the first Starfinder team, then left all the remaining colonists for dead as the disease mutated and rampaged through the living?
"This can't be right... can it?"
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"Well, the first log indicates a standard explore mission" notes Shokil.
"The second..they know something is wrong. I wonder if Tebs was a Starfinder, we should look that up when we get back. I assumed not, but on re-reading maybe they were. No indications they started the plague intentionally.
'ome down and return' though... that almost sounds like what we have done - via the Lorespire portal or whatever it is that got us here. That third team, ugh.. We need to find the metal hanger they talked about."
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Your words seems to calm the SRO's wiring a bit as they seem less frightened. "You think we can really get out of here? What about the rest of us?" The robots grow quite excited as this. K.A.N.T. begins to explain that there are an additional 192 who live in the settlement on the other end of the asteroid.
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Ratatat adds some questions to Shokil's query for KANT, "When we first arrived, someone contacted us on an old, old Starfinder comms channel. Are you aware of any other sentient beings (not these feral undead) on the asteroid aside from your settlement?
"That person, whomever they are, is the reason we came to this Starfinder lodge. He/She/They/It told us we'd uncover information here...which we did, kinda.
"That person also said the key to getting out of here is an old Starfinder monument at the center of the colony. So we'll be investigating that as well. Wanna come with? Let's take a look, figure it out and together find a way to get everyone from your settlement out of here, yah?"
Ratatat says to the party, [b]"I get the feeling we don't have all the pieces to the puzzle just yet, amirite? You think there's more to be uncovered in this lodge?"
Ratatat takes another look around to see if there might be any more clues we can pick up on.
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“It’s just over a 24 hour journey away, on the other side of the asteroid. You should come and visit." The SROs cheer after this statement as cute figures dance across their displays in excitement. The SRO's swirl around and around at the thought of this. Unfortunately as Naiaj informed you at the beginning of your journey this entry would only stay open for 24 hours max before it opens again in a year. While you may have several hours left you certainly don't have enough time to reach the settlement or even return for that matter.
The SRO's grow a bit agitated once more at the mention of the monument. “Oh, the Starfinder monument at the center of town. You should be careful. The Starfinder there isn’t a happy person and doesn’t like people going around there. We met him many years ago, and he told us to stay away from there.” This prompts the SROs to express fear as skulls and crossbones appear on their monitors. While they show true fear of the place they do agree to show you the way.
Spending a bit more time you poke around the rooms and buildings surrounding the Lodge. All that is left is junk and refuse that litters the ground. No other useful information appears to be left on this harddrive for Zarg to draw information from.
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"Erm... gonna have a little problem with that whole timeframe. The way we got in 'ere is only open for a day. Well... a golarion day. 24 hours... an only once a year. I think the only way we gonna get everyone offa this rock is gonna be to get at least one 'o you back to lorespire and get alla yer buddies to move their camp over near the way out so we can move ya all once the door opens again... but that's a long time. Not sure how that all works fer ya but I ain't got no time magic. Ah mean, a one year assignment ain't the worst thing... ah was a Veskarium solder for a while 'fore I turned free-lance wizzard and all, but whatever we do gotta work. We should try an figure out what that Starfinder monument is 'bout. If it's makin' yall go skull 'n bones then we gotta deal with it. Seems like it's a starfinder problem that needs starfinder fixin."
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Shokil nods. "Good thinking. K.A.N.T. if there is no way to signal your people, would you be interested in coming with us anyway, and leaving a message behind? " He turns to the other robot-folk.
"Or would any of you be willing to remain behind while others try for the exit?"
To the other Starfinders he muses "I wonder if the shadowy figure was one of the original starfinders, one of the 'elimination team'? Or someone else entire?"
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K.A.N.T. likes this idea, "Sounds great to me." The SRO's all wheel ahead of you as to show you the path.
As you make your way towards the monument one of the SRO's monitors lights up and begins to beep and bling with the sound of a smaller klaxon. Looking over you see a zoomed out map on the screen. With each bleep a new red dot shows on the screen until there are dozens. Minutes later this turns into a hundred, then several hundred. "Looks like the sanguis are beginning to wake up." The robot scans in closer. There seems to be some sort of subsonic attraction signal being emanated at the monument drawing them in.
Several partially boarded-up buildings surround a raised stone stage in this area of Lumina Colony. A huge double-tiered fountain ascends from the center of the stage. The Starfinder Society’s symbol, rendered in brass, tops the centerpiece fountain monument. Jagged icicles drop at several points along the immense brass emblem. Two small computer terminals are visible along the north and southeastern edge off the stage, each flanking a set of ascending stairs.
The SRO's tread down to the southern edges of the monument. "This is the place. We will secure the site while you do what you need to do."
K.A.N.T. radios over to Zarg. "There isn't much time. The Sanguis are getting close."
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"Ahm a go take one o' the terminals. Morvius, think ya can take the other? Also... might wanna see if there's anythin' magical 'bout the monument. Mind takin' a look Delea? Errmm...."
He waggles his fingers and points to his head in the 'telepathic communication plz' sign.
Mind takin' a look Delea?
With that he turns on his jetpack and moves towards a computer.
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As you hurry to the terminals Ratatat takes to the rooftops to see if he can locate in oncoming threats. He freezes in place out of absolute fear. Looking out on the horizon, past the rooftops the ground seems to move. Hundreds of undead slowly descend on your location from all sides. There is no seen escape other than the monument at this time.
Next to Delea a pair of gelidas, similar to the lesser undead you fought earlier and a pair of hulking ogre-like bloated corpses shamble out from the side of the building. The SRO's quickly open fire, eliminating all but one of the Ogre-like creatures. K.A.N.T. call out. "We will hold back what we can, though you should hurry."
Delea scans the area quickly and finds no immediate source of magic.
Shokil (SP 22/36 | HP 30/30 | RP 7/7)
Delea (SP 28/28 | HP 28/28 | RP 2/5)
Ratatat (SP 31/40 | HP 37/37 | RP 6/6)
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??????
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Zargothrax (SP 29/42 | HP 36/36 | RP 6/7)
Dr. Morvius (SP 35/35 | HP 34/34 | RP 4/5)
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Cystian
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Gamuzali (SP 27/53 | HP 47/47 | RP 7/8; Resistance Piercing 5; +1 AC to round 5)
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"Woo hoo! Go for it SRO's!" calls out Shokil.
The sergeant looked around. This looked bad. He'd call for evac, but the radio had a hole the size of a 5credit stick through the middle of it. So did the radio operator. Turning to Private Stitch, he growled 'You used to work in a garage? See if you can get that hover-tank operational. ' He looked around again and the ground seemed to crawl with enemies. 'I'd guess you have about thirty seconds.'
Taking aim at the ogre-like thing, Shokil tries to calm his breathing, ordering the suit to provide him a snack. The rifle is carefully raised to his head, and the plucky author squeezes the trigger.
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Seeing hundreds of undead converging on our position, Ratatat exclaims in a panic, "Guys... GUYS!!! There are HORDES of undead incoming!! We gotta get outta here, like now! And these SROs are going to have to come with! There's no surviving what's incoming!
"KANT! As soon as we figure out how to extract, you guys are coming with us. If you have some way of leaving behind a message to be picked up by others from your settlement, do it NOW!! Let 'em know what happened!"
Ratatat then flicks comms to the old Starfinder frequency the unknown voice contacted us on, "Whomever you are, if you ever had any intention of making yourself helpful, ya better do it now!"
Ratatat then says to the party, "Now, I don't wanna say 'I told ya so...'
"So instead, I'm gunna say 'I CALLED IT!!' Amirite?!?!?!
"And for my next prediction, Gamuzali is gunna say something about Veskarium military ops in three... two... one..."
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Once the undead pop out of the nearby buildings, Ratatat eyes the big ogre-like beast and yells, "Ohmigawds!! All these undead were former colonists, right? What kind of big monstrous colonist was that thing before it turned undead?!?!?!"
Not knowing what that thing is, Ratatat does the next best thing. He fires twice at it!!!
Ratatat full attacks red!
;
"Burning beastie bumbling in!!" warns Ratatat.
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Shokil lines up a shot on the bloated dead and scorches a laser across it's midsection. Ratatat quickly finishes it off as his burst of plasma bursts the chest open, expelling the noxious gas held within.
Zarg recognizes this is another form of sanguis known as a cystian. Much like their brethren they are quite vulnerable to fire. From a distance they are able to fire a volley of ice spikes from their body striking many foes within 10 feet of each other.
Shokil (SP 22/36 | HP 30/30 | RP 7/7)
Delea (SP 28/28 | HP 28/28 | RP 2/5)
Ratatat (SP 31/40 | HP 37/37 | RP 6/6)
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??????
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Zargothrax (SP 29/42 | HP 36/36 | RP 6/7)
Dr. Morvius (SP 35/35 | HP 34/34 | RP 4/5)
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Cystian (Red -52)
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Gamuzali (SP 27/53 | HP 47/47 | RP 7/8; Resistance Piercing 5; +1 AC to round 5)
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Delea moves closer to the monument to get better control of what is around her when an elven voice comes from the rooftop to the south.
It appears the starfinder is making his presence known but he is nowhere to be seen, tough it sounded to be on the same roof as Ratatat. The air around you grows thick and difficult to move through as you hear a spell being cast.
Shokil (SP 22/36 | HP 30/30 | RP 7/7)
Delea (SP 28/28 | HP 28/28 | RP 2/5)
Ratatat (SP 31/40 | HP 37/37 | RP 6/6)
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Sentinel
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Zargothrax (SP 29/42 | HP 36/36 | RP 6/7)
Dr. Morvius (SP 35/35 | HP 34/34 | RP 4/5)
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Cystian
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Gamuzali (SP 27/53 | HP 47/47 | RP 7/8; Resistance Piercing 5; +1 AC to round 5)
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Dr. Morvius begins to boot the ancient computer up, though his hands move at a sloth's pace.
Shokil (SP 22/36 | HP 30/30 | RP 7/7)
Delea (SP 28/28 | HP 28/28 | RP 2/5)
Ratatat (SP 31/40 | HP 37/37 | RP 6/6)
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Sentinel
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Zargothrax (SP 29/42 | HP 36/36 | RP 6/7)
Dr. Morvius (SP 35/35 | HP 34/34 | RP 4/5; Staggered until round 10)
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Cystian
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Gamuzali (SP 27/53 | HP 47/47 | RP 7/8; Resistance Piercing 5; +1 AC to round 5)
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Zargothrax turns to jet forward to the console but finds himself rather sluggish. Slowly he looks for the source of his new molasses feet.
"Erm... whatdja say? No hablo umm... whatever yer talkin..."
He scratches his head for a moment before adding. "Ann where the heck are ya?"
He pulls out a spell gem of 'see invisibility' as he slowly arrives at the console next to Morvius.
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Not understanding the words but hearing the speech emanate from close by, Ratatat looks around him and says "Watcha talkin' bout!" in Akitonian, Aklo, Common, Goblin and Ysoki.
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Not understanding the words but hearing the speech emanate from close by, Ratatat glances around him and says "Watcha talkin' bout Willis!" in Akitonian, Aklo, Common, Goblin and Ysoki.