[SFS_Aerondor] 01-20 Duskmire Accord 9 (level 1-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

The fungus might be edible. A quick scan shows nothing toxic in this particular one. Low nutrients, but there is some.

From the top of the temple he can see movement in the distance and maybe buildings. But they are a long way away, probably a days travel.

"Any ideas, everyone?"

Munching on the contents of a field rations pack, Talltree nods. "Go see what's moving in the distance, there."

Can Talltree identify a probable planet of origin for the fungi?

"we collect ourselves and continue until the next settlement to establish relationships and see how we can finish the experiment as soon as possible"

The Fungi here, like else where, are genetically modified. No real clear idea where they may have originated from.

So heading north toward the other village?

"I suppose this "temple" will stay sealed until the experiment is complete. However, our goal is not necessarily to end the experiment but to understand this place. Let's go to the village in the distance."

Sisyar will *secretly* (not very stealthy though) pick some mushrooms and put in into his pack.

Sisyar acquires some fungi for later..uh.. study.

You eventually come to realise there is no "night" as such here. Or if there is, the day is much, much longer than a standard day. So you camp, rest, and continue onward toward the more rugged northern part of the cavern.

Climbing up into the "hills" you follow the river and see signs of semi frequent travel in the area. Eventually you come to cultivated farmlands.

If you are trying to remain unseen, then provide stealth checks, if not, then... well... press onward.

no opinion from me on stealth or not...

"Let's go openly, unless we see some indication that it's a bad idea. Can anyone tell what sorts of creatures have been passing through here?"

stealth isnt a option to me

You press onward, heading up the track. A small village is built atop a low hill in the distance. A swift river borders the village to the west, its waters flowing from north to south. Fields of rice and substantial clusters of mushrooms grow from the hillsides around the town, and several figures are at work tending to the crops, their backs bent and hunched. The village itself has a short wall of piled dirt around its perimeter, and scraggly growth on top shows the beginnings of a protective hedge.

What you notice is that the figures in the fields have hyena like heads.

Life Sciences check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Well, they *look* like gnolls, but in the Pact Worlds gnolls don't farm...they have slaves do that, or they take from others."

"Well, this is a simulation. I'm sure things here aren't normal. They do seem friendly though..."

"If everyone is this friendly, why does anyone need to show dominance over anyone else?"

OK with just approaching them openly if no one objects.

"That may be the problem, and why they're all still here."

As you approach the gnolls they start to walk briskly back towards the fortified town, glancing nervously back toward you.

And as this is PBP, to keep things moving, I assume you are continuing up to the village proper

The buildings in this village are relatively low and squat, their walls formed from stacked bricks of peat. Most of the roofs have vegetation growing upon them, creating a soft, fuzzy look that is enhanced by the perpetual mist.

A crowd of a couple of dozen gnolls watch, their courage seemingly bolstered either by numbers of the presence of their village. Eventually one, covered in mud steps forward.

"What you want?" it asks.

"We want to know who lives here!" Dora answers cheerfully.

"Yes! We are peaceful explorers and have arrived in this place only a few tens of kiloseconds ago."

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"We live here!" explains the gnoll, who introduces herself as Corev.

"We are Moreltop village. An agrarian commune. We grow food and live here."

She seems relieved at the calm and peaceful claims by Talltree.

"How can we help you?"

Kato will aid in the diplomacy

"We also want to know where we are and who you are. As mentioned we are lost explorers who mean no harm."

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Do you know of the Mukfur tribe?" Sisyar says almost proudly.

"We know of the Mukfur" says Corev, carefully.

"They live to the east."

"Is there anyone else here other than you, the mukfurs and the ghosts?"

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"You seem a bit worried when I mentioned the Mukfur tribe.". Sisyar raises an eyebrow. "What can you tell us about them? Are they your friends or foes?"

Dora, knowing she is not charismatic at all, keeps a careful eye on things as her companions talk.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"Just the fungi" says Corev. "There are some other small trees and bushes, but they don't grow well. " she further explains to Kato.

Answering Sisya she continues "We used to live to the east. The Mukfurs took our village. The growing was better there." She points to the fortifications around Moreltop village. "Would we waste effort on these if there were no threats. Someday the Mukfur will come again. Then we will probably have to move again." she sighs.

Dora34 notices nothing especially unusual.

While Corev responds, the shirren sends brief telepathic messages to the rest of the party. Don't mention that we were adopted by the Mukfurs.

Surreptitious communication completed, Talltree nods. "We have spoken with the Mukfurs. They seem to be attracted to gas vents in the village they took from you--we weren't able to determine the nature of the gas, though. They spoke of another group in this place, too. They called them ghosts--do you know what they were talking about?"

Corev shivers at the mention of the ghosts.

"The swamp to the south. We gather special fungi there to help with sickness or injury. But it is haunted. Many who go there never come back."

"Would you like to come in and eat?" she asks.

"Yes, thank you."

You are issued into a somewhat ramshackle main hall. The large gnolls crowd in, obviously interested in hearing what ever you have to say.

The first course is a somewhat delicious mushroom soupe.

"How did you come to be here?" asks Corev.

"Spaceship," Sisyar replies in between sips of soup. "Then we walked here I guess." He shrugs, thinking it's a bit obvious.

Corev shakes her head, as if not understanding what you are saying.

"We have explored extensively, and found no way out of the cavern. " she explains.

"We have everything we need here of course, although the Mukfurs do cause problems, as does the ghost. Live would be easier without them."

Kato sits down with the rest of them and starts sipping the soup. In between bites, he says, "Are you aware that this world is an experiment? When we first arrived we were greeted by a voice explaining how to leave. What do you know of this."

vutrul rushes your soup dish "if it is so kind I would like to repeat, you may have reason that life would be quieter without them but you must understand their disappearance could cause the alteration of this ecosystem, you do not think the same???

"Maybe we can help you reach an agreement with the Mukfur tribe? Then you and they do not need to worry about each other, and can live peacefully."

"Any lasting peace will have to include the ghosts, so we'll need to talk to them."

Sisyar nods in agreement. "What kind of problems do the ghosts cause?" he asks while looking around. "We would help in brokering peace between the ghosts and the Mukfurs and you, if you are interested."

Sorry for the delay. Flooding was really bad and delayed by return home. [/url]
"I don't know about an experiment. But I do know that we are to seek dominance. That is not our way however. Our dominance is over the land and the cavern. We have no desire for dominance over the others."

Corev thinks for a bit longer. "Peace is our preferred option. We need to get fungi for healing from the swamp, where the ghosts live. If you could manage that we would seriously consider alliances."

You'll need some type of diplomacy check, but the right offer to them would make it easier.

"What sort of fungi do you need?" Talltree produces their datapad and prepares to take notes.

Not being the diplomatic sort, Sisyar just nods. "Right away!"

Corev gestures and a small sample of the relevant fungi are provided as samples.

"Here you are." she says. "We don't have a lot, but if you can provide more we would be very grateful."

ok we´ll try to locater a good stock for your ppl

Want top do anything more before you head to the swamp?

"Corev, do you know anything about the vapors that the Mukfurs seem to enjoy breathing so much?"

"There were no vapors when we were living over there." says Corev.

"I guess something has changed. But... it is of no concern to us. In fact if the Mukfurs keep busy with vapors, they are hardly likely to be bothering us."

Does this fungus resemble the one that was at the temple?

"An alliance may not be enough. I believe for this experiment to end each faction has to either be exterminated or submit to another faction. An alliance is not domination, it is cohabitation. Nonetheless, we would be happy to aid you in collecting the medicine required. We have come across some interesting fungus along our travels already. At a site known as the temple. What do you know of that site?"

The fungus at the temple is different from the sample provided that comes from the swamp. There are lots of different sort of fungi around. It's like the whole place was colonized by mushrooms rather than plants. Although there are a few odd trees here and there.

"We have visited the temple, but could find little to interest us there." says Corev.

"Here the soil is diggable and we have what we need, even if the work is harder than in our initial home."

"That is good. After we eat and rest, we will go talk to the ghosts. Thank you again for your hospitality."

The shirren sends a private telepathic message to Kato. It occurs to me that, from what the drone told us, we are now part of the experiment. If we could convince the factions to submit to us, do you think that would satisfy the requirement?

The team spends a restful and nutritious - if not especially flavorsome "night" with the Gnolls. The cavern never really gets totally dark, but there seems to be a convention about when it is time to rest and sleep.

In the morning you arise and bid farewell to the peaceful but independent clan and head south... to the swamp.

It is a good days travel and the terrain gets progressively wetter and wilder. The swampy morass is a mixture of tangled vegetation, mushroom forests, grasping mud and horribly twisted paths. Groves of massive, vibrantly colored mushrooms as tall as oak trees grow in several places in this part of the cavern, their spores thick in the air.