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The halfling seems to be the first one arrived in the waiting room of the lodge on the false moon of Salvation's End. As usual he's a bit nervous. He hopes it will be somebody to keep foes and beasts at distance. Well he wears an armor and he has a pistol hanging. But both are obviously not very used except some spots on the armor. And the great question: will his new companions recognize him? He's a very well-known video personality anyway. He taps his fingers on his knee.
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An armored formian without weapon enters soon in the waiting room. His antennas move in rhythm with a music. Tchi tcha tcha tchi. Tchi tcha tcha tchi. Tchi tcha tcha tchi. Galop, Galop, Galop. tchi. tchi tcha tcha tchi. In fact there is Tune bot 2000 following him.
Hello, I'm Ji-Thil. I'm musician. I will entertain if we go into the drift. Well I don't think we will as we are here and not in Absalom. But I may also entertain during our exploration if you want.
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A towering figure squeezes through the doorway of the waiting room, wearing an unfamiliar uniform that is mostly white but with some red trim, and a helmet completely obscuring her face. There is an oversized sword strapped to her back. More than three meters tall, she stands ominously above the agents as she lifts her hands to remove the headgear.
"Have any of you seen a skittermander around here?" she says in a tone that is more annoyed than threatening as her ursine features are revealed. "Red fur, about yay high -" she holds her paws barely apart at all "- uniform like mine, but blue. IPPY!" She yells out into the hallway. "Runt thinks that because he can form the head, he can do whatever he wants. Well, we'll see what you can do next time when THE ROBOT DOESN'T HAVE ITS SWORD ARM!"
Having exhausted her fury, she glances at the room, finds no appropriate chairs, and sighs as she leans against the wall and set her helmet on the table. "So I guess I'm here to watch everyone's backs. And fronts. Whatever side needs it. Name's Keyona."
You're escorted out of the waiting room into a hallway that is dimly lit and crowded with crates. Standing in front of a door to the meeting room is a well-dressed drow who greets you. “Starfinders! I’m so glad you’ve arrived. I am Venture Captain Kunoris Vex,” he says, approaching. The drow offers an outstretched hand, but is forced to jump back quickly as a pair of rapidly chattering ysoki dash in front of him, waving their arms excitedly and pointing at readings on their holographic displays as they run down the hall. Vex smiles. “As you can see, there’s a lot going on here, and I want you to get right down to work.”
Vex gestures to a nearby doorway, leading into a conference room with insta-plastic tables and chairs arranged haphazardly about. The holographic display unit’s core sits atop the table, ready for a technician to install it. “Sorry for the mess. I’m sure you understand we’re right in the middle of setting everything up.” The drow politely pulls out the chairs for others to sit. Once everyone is seated, he pulls out a pocket computer and projects an image onto a nearby wall. The readout shows a series of images of a long, massive hallway lined with gigantic doors spaced far apart.
“As you can see, this moon contains a large number of vaults. We recently gained access to one of them,” Vex begins. “The monitor outside of this vault doorway currently displays the words ‘Duskmire Accord.’ We’ve found no records in our research here or from the databases on Absalom Station about the term ‘Duskmire,’ but we assume it is the name of a place. Our scans from the hallway reveal a powerful energy source somewhere within the vault, although its construction or some manner of shielding prevents any meaningful readings. It appears that if we want to learn anything more, we need to send in a team.” He cocks his head, raises an eyebrow, and looks meaningfully toward the group.
The drow turns off the projector and smiles broadly as he leans forward. “I’d like you to go into this vault and see what you can find. Identify the source of these energy readings, and learn anything else you can about the interior of the vault. There may be inhabitants, but we don’t know whether they’re likely to be peaceful. As always, be ready for anything!”
Of course if we meet inhabitants we will try to communicate with them. It should be inhabitants because of the message even if this one could have been sent simply by a artificial intelligence. What do we know about this place? How did the Society come to it?
"By 'this place' I assume you mean this moon? Well, it’s hard for me to answer that, given that everything we learn about this place seems to raise more questions. We know this is an artificial moon that contains a sophisticated artificial gravity generator and a number of sealed-off vaults. It seems as though there is some manner of intelligence controlling this entire station, but we haven’t managed to contact it to determine its purpose.
"But if by 'this place' you mean the interior of the vault itself, unfortunately, we know frustratingly little. As I mentioned, there is either shielding built into the power source device or an unknown type of active disruption that stymies our efforts. I’d like you to investigate both, and take readings from the power source if you can.
"The vault has been active for several months now. I was hoping extended scans and scrying might eventually pierce the disruption, but to little avail.”
"I'm not good at the talky parts - that's Ippy's job, WHEREVER HE IS, but I'll be ready if things go south. I don't suppose you know something about the inhabitants that might help us smooth things over?"
"Honestly, we're not positive if this vault has inhabitants or not. The disruption prevents us from confirming the existence or absence of life within this vault.
"However, at least some of the vaults on this artificial moon are inhabited. The first vault we opened was occupied by a group of dwarves who believed they were deep underground on Golarion, of all places, and that they were undergoing some kind of task for the vanished god Torag. They seemed to have had their memories altered somehow. Whether that was a fluke or a pattern remains to be seen."
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George 09-23 perks up at the mention of scientific discovery.
"Interesting. Do you have any special equipment to identify this energy?"
@GM bigboom - My character has all the sciences trained and is pretty smart as well. Is there any equipment to detect energy readings in the core rule book? Also can we make Culture rolls to determine if we know anything about the inhabitants or should we wait until we encounter them below?
George 09-23 perks up at the mention of scientific discovery.
"Interesting. Do you have any special equipment to identify this energy?"
@GM bigboom - My character has all the sciences trained and is pretty smart as well. Is there any equipment to detect energy readings in the core rule book? Also can we make Culture rolls to determine if we know anything about the inhabitants or should we wait until we encounter them below?
"We've used everything from hand-held sensors to starship-grade sensors and they've all provided the same result - detection of an energy source with no additional discernable detail. We've tried a few other specialized sensors to scan for specific energy types those attempts have also proved fruitless.
"Honestly, we've even deployed magical scrying but those efforts have also come up blank. Whatever mechanism is in place to scramble or block our technology-based attempts is equally effective against magical attempts.
"And really, this is where your team comes in. After months of exhausting every possible non-invasive way to gather information to no avail, it is time to send a team in to explore the interior first hand.
"Once all of you are ready, I’ll have a vehicle deliver you to the vault's access tunnel. Since no one else has gone in yet, I really don’t have much more advice for you than to travel down and see where it leads.
"There's not much else to tell but I'll happily take any other questions. Also, this lodge's equipment stores are, of course, open and available for you to make any standard purchases before you head into the vault."
With no further items to discuss during the briefing, Vex says, "It’s sure to be an intriguing experience, and I have to say I’m rather jealous. ‘Don’t get promoted,’ is what my friends always said. Now I see why!”
You are taken via ground transport to the main hallway of Salvation’s End and dropped off at the now-accessible door to the Duskmire vault. You proceed down a passageway until you enter an airlock. After a brief blast from a decontamination laser grid, you pass into the vault. Once inside, the doors close behind you but remain unlocked.
Looking around, you appear to be in some kind of massively vast cavern. Just ahead of you is a 2-foot-wide flat metal holoprojection disk embedded in the floor. A holographic projection of a horizontal blue line appears in the air above the circular disk. The line begins moving in a waveform pattern like that of an oscilloscope.
“Greetings, ERROR: NULL RECORD,” a polite, cool voice speaks, in Common. “Welcome to Duskmire! You are understandably confused by your sudden arrival, but rest assured that there is all you need here to survive should you choose to do so. You can enter the temple and be released when you have achieved dominance over the other two resident powers within the Duskmire area. Please accept this simple map as a gift to guide your way. Happy conquest!”
A map printed on a simple plastic sheet materializes on the projector.
Looking at the map and surveying the landscape around you, it becomes apparent that this vault the party has entered is some kind of massive, sealed cavern terrarium. You judge this entire vault to be about 22 miles across, 15 miles wide and the ceiling 10 miles high.
The walls are made of a mysterious substance that feels as hard as a starship bulkhead. The air is humid and warm with temperatures ranging from 80F to 90F. Perpetual mists and fog shroud the cavern floor.
Soil, peat and rocks cover the floor throughout the cavern, supporting a variety of plant life. Many large, fungal specimens appear to thrive, but other trees, bushes, and grasses that you recognize to be more typically found above ground are also quite successful here.
The lighting in this gigantic cave / terrarium / vault is perpetually dim. Light seems to emanate from the ceiling, walls and even some of the vegetation.
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George 09-23 activates the life support unit in his armor more out of habit than actual need. The suit quickly cools to his desired temperature of 71 F and 35% humidity. The andoroid then spends a little time to examine his surroundings remarking on the unusual genetic make-up of the flora and the advanced design of the projector.
He lowers his voice while addressing the others.
"There is sounds of singing and laughter off to the southeast."
Not long after the party begins heading southeast do you see an object floating in the air towards you. Apprehensive, you brace yourself should the object turn hostile. As it gets closer, you make it out to be some kind of levitating, spherical robotic drone. It doesn't make any move to attack and once it reaches a respectful distance, a polite, cool voice speaks from the machine in Common not only through its own internal speakers, but also through frequencies on your personal comm units!
“Greetings, interlopers. Your presence has been noted and appropriate adjustments have been made to the operation of this facility. External access is now prohibited until such time as the experiment has completed. Thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor.”
It remains in position, floating in the air, facing you.
The drone emotionlessly and methodically answers each question...
Who are you?
“My designation is unit 65–4bxv0.”
An experiment? Which experiment?
“This facility is the current site of an experiment to gather information on the dominance behavior of this facility’s inhabitants. Your insertion into the test parameters has now been accounted for. "
Who is running an experiment here?
“I am sorry, but that information is restricted.”
What are you talking about?
"I'm talking about the ongoing experiment that you are currently inquiring about."
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George 09-23 looks at the floating robot with much interest. He turns to Floquet.
"Apparently we are now. They are trying to see who the top dog in this place is and until they do we cannot leave."
@GM bigboom - Would it be possible to hack the robot with skills and/or magic? I am tempted to attempt to give the robot "new orders" with Telepathic Message.
It is a mistake we are are not part of this experiment. What is this experiment about by the way?
"Although your presence was not planned for within the original parameters of the experiment, your intrusion has now been accounted for. Therefore, you are, by definition, now a part of the experiment. If you choose not to participate, then the experiment will continue regardless, but external access is prohibited until the experiment is completed.
"This experiment is about observing dominance behavior of this facility's inhabitants.”
"Apparently we are now. They are trying to see who the top dog in this place is and until they do we cannot leave."
“Based on prior observation, dominance among sentient species typically refers to termination of the opposing groups’ leadership. Complete extermination is not necessary for completion.”
Dominance behavior? And what about a capacity to live together with each other in the same place?
"Perhaps examination of the capacity for sentient life to coexist in the same physical location without exerting dominance will be the subject of future experiments but it is not the subject of the current experiment."
That would be the best, wouldn’t it?
"It is not my function to judge whether such a situation is best or not and I cannot answer this particular query."
The drone continues to levitate in place, making no move to depart while the party raises questions.
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I don’t know what to ask now anyway. So let’s go to find out the inhabitants of the location. And as the robot wants to see some dominance I want to show to this conserve that living ones may live in harmony. Please don’t be worried George. Let’s simply hope that they will be species with which we can discuss.
The party resumes heading southeast towards the singing and laughter and the moment you do, the drone floats up and away, disappearing into the distance.
After a bit of a hike, you arrive in an area where the terrain in this part of the cavern is mostly flat with trails throughout. The ground is made up of several feet of peat, piled vegetation that becomes matted down and appears to naturally decay into a rich soil. Despite the lack of actual sunlight, a variety of pale grasses and scrubby bushes cover the landscape throughout the area. Curiously, a slight haze is in the air at all times.
You spot what appears to be a village not far off and head in that direction. When you arrive, you find the village grounds to be covered in mud splatters, half-eaten food, and other garbage. The buildings here are relatively squat and list to the sides, formed from stacked bricks of peat. Some of the buildings have fallen over, while others have been bashed into misshapen lumps. A thick, lavender smoke hangs heavy a few inches above the ground, partially limiting your vision and assaulting your sense of smell.
Upon entering the ramshackle village, you find lying around the encampment five large, furry creatures that George 09-23 easily identify as yetis. They don't pay any attention to your arrival and seem to be in a listless, semi-conscious state.
Further east you see a large tent but are unable to spot any occupants from your current vantage point.
As the party moves towards the tent, one of the yetis with half-closed eyelids waves bye-bye to you. Another one opens his eyes, sees the party, closes his eyes and blows kisses in your general direction a few times before falling asleep snoring.
A third yeti looks up at different points in the sky and intermittently says "woah!" each time he looks at a different spot in the sky: "woah!" <shift gaze elsewhere> "woah!" <shift gaze elsewhere> "woah!" <shift gaze elsewhere> "woah!" <shift gaze elsewhere>.
The last two are quiet and don't seem to notice your presence at all but you swear you hear them giggling when you're not looking in their direction. At least you think it is giggling because none of you have ever heard a yeti giggle...
When you arrive at the tent, you see another yeti inside. Unlike the other five, this one is fully conscious and sitting upright. At first, he seems to be daydreaming but he soon notices the party's presence and snaps out of it. "Oh," he says, standing up to get a better look at all of you. "This is new. Who are you?"
"Neighbors? Well, if that means you're here to conquer us..." he clenches his fists for a brief moment, "...we're not defenseless."
He then relaxes back into a neutral posture, "But we're not interested in fighting either. So tell me. What is a funny-looking group like you doing here in this place? Strange that a bear can talk..."
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George 09-23 nods in agreement with the Yeti's assessment of the talking bear party member.
"We are just explorers. Might I ask why everyone wants to fight around here anyways? It seems like a waste of time and resources to me."
George 09-23 is able to read the leader's mood correctly or so he thinks as he is an Android after all.
"Perhaps we can pick up your mood a bit. We have a fully trained musician with us."
He looks over to Jl-Thil.
As Ji-Thil plays music, you hear the five yetis singing in the distance, lyrics matching Ji-Thil's melody, "It’s phenomenal!!! Being abominable!!!"
Once the song is over, the yeti before you is in a noticeably friendlier disposition. "Well, you funny-looking group of explorers, I believe you now when you say you're not here to fight. Funny thing... most I've met who want to be friends tell me their names but maybe that is just yeti culture. My name is Inix..." Inix bows with a flourish and grace you did not expect from such a large creature. "...leader of this tribe - the Muckfur tribe."
Addressing George 09-23, "None of us wants to fight. We just awoke here one day in this strange place and were told we're we must defeat the others if we wish to leave. But we have no desire to fight. It's hot, wet and uncomfortable here. I just want to find a cold mountaintop. Odd though because I don't ever remember having been to one."
Replying to Floquet, a sadness darkens his face, "Yes. You can certainly say so. You see that smoke there?" Inix points towards the village and you believe he's referring to the lavender haze you walked through. "It... it makes us see things. Funny things. And makes us lazy but also feels good. We have food, we have feel-good smoke coming from ground. So my tribe named this village 'Party Downs' and most everyone just lays around all day.
"But I don't enjoy this. Something feels wrong - there is no excitement here. And like I said, it is so hot here... this cannot be our true home - it feels unnatural."
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"My apologies. My name is Keyona. We also found ourselves here unexpectedly and told to fight. Your way seems superior, though I could see it becoming boring. Maybe we could take a walk around, get away from the smoke and find something fun to do. I think I saw a river to the southeast... or maybe that was condensation... anyway, a race would be invigorating, I bet! And then a cooling swim."