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Sturmvanger's wings raise toward Seggas, the equivalent of a thumbs up sign in Dragonkin.
<Perhaps you should consider combining forces with Morvruul. He could sell your services and you could split the profits.>
While having nothing to do with procuring the password, Sturmvanger recognizes when the rest of the group has completed the task and are on their way.
He helps Khubelu up. "Are you ok, now sir? He's ok, folks. No need for any further alarm. Just a slight malfunction."
He then proceeds to move out of the facility as quickly as is reasonable.
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"Oh, I don't know. It might just be the fact that you randomly erupt in laughter for no apparent reason. I can't read your mind, but I have a feeling the wheels are turning in there and they're turning in the wrong direction.
"No apparent reason?! Wrong direction?!" Morvruul replies with mock surprise as he steps away from the damai. "How dare you accuse a fine, upstanding merchant of machinations! Shame on you, Cha'mon Cha'mon Shame on you!"
"And," he mutters, "That laugh of yours is utterly ridiculous. No one can take you seriously if you are going to laugh like that!"
Unwilling to trust the damai, Morvruul makes a second copy of the 14th track for himself. He, then, decides to add the first 13 tracks as well.
The prices they charge for music these days is criminal, he convinces himself.
"May I reform now?" Khubelu projects to the Starfinders.
"And renounce your former ways?" postulates Morvruul. "Not a horrible idea, I suppose. I could humbly recommend a fine, upstanding witchwyrd--one well regarded in the merchant community, if you happen to be looking for a moral advisor."
Taking a few deep breaths that almost start into a chuckle, Seggas instead just gives Morvruul a slightly-too-toothy-to-be-cute-but-not-fully-sinister smile. "You have a nice laugh there Morvruul. You'll have to tell me what precipitated it sometime."
The witchwyrd only stares in response. Whether or not he is blushing beneath his face covering is hard to tell.
With the mission accomplished, Morvruul looks for ways to escape back to the ship and get off-planet.
And with any luck, I can get off this snail-infested world while leaving that troublesome Cha'mon Cha'mon behind!
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You continue with the tour but you have the distinct feeling of being watched. But no challenge comes, and you board the submarine without incident.
The customs process to depart the planet is just as strict as arrival. You sit through a tense, hours-long waiting period before receiving departure clearance.
[spoiler = Perception 16+ or SM 16+]You realize that the officials recorded their images and provided names in a marked file. Though the true significance of this is nebulous, it’s clear that youy visit to Embroi may have future repercussions.[/spoiler]
Eventually you get to your ship and leave. You receive a long range communique from Naiaj urging you to continue to the next location and reminding you of the mission’s importance.
Upon arrival at Nemenar ...
With the softest of bumps, the ship docks. A pleasant, automated voice speaks overheard, welcoming travelers to Nemenar, and specifically, to Vehenstrenal. Outside, the light from the nearest prismatic spire dances across the buildings. Ceaselessly shifting and turning rainbows illuminate and reflect off each other, giving the impression of a city made of multifaceted dark quartz. Everyone in the crowd pauses to wonder at the breathtaking sight, from the noisy tourists to the rushed businesspeople.
At the end of the landing sits a small crowd of vehicles. Among them is comfortable urban cruiser with a sign on its roof that depicts the neatly-drawn symbol of the Starfinder Society. The inside is luxurious, with padded seating, refreshments, and plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the views of Nemenar gliding past. In the middle of the seating area is a case that contains several pairs of special goggles, allowing visitors to see in the dark when outside of the light of the prismatic spires.
The urban cruiser is controlled by a virtual intelligence (VI) and has been designed to drive along a predetermined route. PCs who don’t have darkvision or some form of blindsense need to use a pair of the supplied goggles when they exit the cruiser.
This is an appropriate time to remind the PCs that the surface of Nemenar is not exposed to the visible light spectrum, and creatures native to the planet have developed multiple ways to work around this.
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The officials recorded our images and provided names in a marked file, Morvruul ponders. It is clear that our visit to Embroi may have future repercussions.
He is more than a little disappointed to share the shuttle off-world with Cha'mon Cha'mon.
On Nemenar, Morvruul puts on the goggles when prompted, then glances over at Doctor Seggas.
I hope this eyewear does not make my nose look too big.
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Sturmvanger likewise has no need for the goggles. He is impressed by the prismatic display and stares for some time.
He's pleased to be in a vehicle large enough for his bulk.
He follows Seggas' gaze but his eyes narrow as he looks at the witchwyrd.
"No one's ever going to trust a salesperson if they can't see their face," the dragonkin grumbles.
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The goggles basically grant Darkvision for those that don't have it.
You ride for a few hours across the landscape of Nemenar in peace, with the VI occasionally chiming in to describe local hot spots and places of historical importance. Outside the windows of the cruiser, you can see the interplay of the natural ultraviolet light reflecting off the phosphorescent buildings, accompanied by random explosions of colour from distant prismatic spires.
As you approach the coordinates, the overgrown ruins of a collapsed prismatic spire come into view. This location is noticeably darker than the tourist districts of Vehenstrenal. At the base of the spire are remnants of what appears to be an office building.
As the cruiser comes to a gentle stop, the doors automatically unlock, allowing occupants to gather their belongings and exit the vehicle. Before the doors shut, the VI cheerfully speaks. “Thank you so much for visiting our outskirts today! Please remember to take only memories and leave only wishes! This Luxe Transit will be leaving to return to Vehenstrenal in two hours!”
At the base of the shattered crystalline tower, crumbling buildings face a cracked street. Their architecture is at odds with the tower, which appears to be far older and is constructed of reflective crystal. More dilapidated office buildings sprawl in the eastern part of the ruins.
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Seggas gives a smile at Morvruul for the compliment, before turning to glower at Sturm.
Stepping out of the vehicle, Seggas takes a deep breath and looks at the brilliant, scintillating landscape one last time, before turning and heading to the building behind Sturm.
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Gava enters an old office, followed shortly after by Seggas.
This office building has fared better than most over time, and still contains intact furniture. To the east is a warped metal desk with a torn plush chair that now serves as a nest for rodents. Bolted to the northern wall is another desk strewn with old paperwork and a datapad with no charge. The northern desk drawers are locked - Engineering or Athletics to open them.
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Bolted to the northern wall is another desk strewn with old paperwork and a datapad with no charge. The northern desk drawers are locked -
Now! Morvruul thinks, following behind Seggas. This my opportunity to make a grand gesture! To show off my ability! To impress the Doctor! I shall open the draw--
Seggas pulls out Bii and takes a moment to lick her lips and get a better scent of the rats in the wall nearby. She gives them a long, longing look before settling her attention on the drawers.
The witchwyrd releases an audible sigh.
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Seggas looks over at the dejected sounding Morvruul. "I know, eating rodents on the job is a no-no, but we could roast some up later!" She picks up the signal jammer. I wonder how well he can handle all those hands.
Lobbing the jammer across the room she gives a shout. "Morvruul, how well can you use those arms of yours?"
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Lobbing the jammer across the room she gives a shout. "Morvruul, how well can you use those arms of yours?"
How well can I use my arms, you ask? Why, they can be as skilled and meaningful as those of a maestro, as strong and firm as the limbs of a defrex, as gentle and soft as the down of a feather. All this, and more...
"Good," is all Morvruul can presently bring himself to say.
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Sturmvanger rolls his own sight organs at Morvruul's comments to Seggas while they're still in the vehicle.
When they get out, he follows the tiefling biohacker to the building but watches only long enough to make sure that there's nothing more dangerous in there than their potential future lunch.
He then steps into the intersection of the strange neighborhood to get some good lines of fire and pulls out his light reaction cannon.
<Might I suggest the Kasatha Kickstand? *Image-of-two-figures-engaged-in-sensual-activity-that-requires-one-to-have -4-manipulator-limbs.*>
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"Morvruul, get over here and back me up."
Hearing his name, Morvruul promptly replies in a saccharine tone, "Why of course! I'd be happy to 'back you up'!" With a knife, that is! As in, sticking a knife up in your back!
Morvruul cackles, then catching a glimpse of Seggas, quickly recomposes himself. "You must pardon me, Doctor. It seems that my expertise has been requested elsewhere. You know how it is with some agents, always saying things like, 'C'mon C'mon'. It would seem that a merchant's work is never done." But, this damai soon will be, if I have my way!
The witchwyrd gives a wave goodbye with one of his hands as he rests the others on the handles of his blade, baton, and pistol and sets off in the direction of Cha'mon Cha'mon.
Curses! The damais is still too far out in the open, he notes as he walks out into the street, slowly drawing forth the blade in his sword cane, hoping that no one else will notice. "Might I suggest, Cha'mon Cha'mon, that I could better 'back you up', if you were to head into one of these broken down buildings or down one of those dark and secluded alleys, rather than standing outside here in view of the open street?"
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The signal jammer sails through the air after Seggas throws it. Since no one attempted to catch it, it falls on the floor, fortunately on something soft so it doesn't break.
Meanwhile, down near the crevasse ....
An immense crack splits the road, growing as wide as fifteen feet across in some sections. The surface was broken when the prismatic spire collapsed, leaving the other side of the small block mostly unreachable.
To get over athletics could be used to jump across or Engineering to use what's available to build a study ramp.
The buzzing sound is louder here.
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Seggas gives a small face palm as Morvruul completely misses the jammer and instead eeks out a 'good' in response to her question. He's lucky he's cute!
She scoops up the scanner and moves up to the crevice.
Seggas' face lights up as she pulls out a small ball. She presses a button on it and tosses it into the air as it explodes out with a large amount of rapid growing biomatter that soon latches itself to both sides of the crevice and forms hard chitinous plates on the top of it. "I've been looking for a place to try Bridget here out on! This is perfect! Now he question is, is she stable enough to support people walking on her or is she going to collapse?"
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"You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, Morvruul? Wait, don't answer that. I have a feeling you've spent a lot of time in dark secluded alleys conducting completely legitimate transactions for legal merchandise. Sword cane I see, do you know how to use that? I'm guessing we're about to run in to some trouble. Looks like you picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue."
Cha'mon Cha'mon, rejoins the rest of the team and attempts to jury rig a bridge across the crevasse.
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Both Seggas and Cha'mon succeed in bridging the gap. Bridget looks a little spongy but she is stable enough to bear weight.
Once you have fully crossed over and made your way into the facility, the buzzing sound grows in intensity. The source of the sound also becomes clear—an insectile hive jutting from the southwestern wall. You also see three small insects and a much larger one which looks annoyed by your presense.
Initiatives:
Cha'mon, Sturmvanger, Gava and Seggas are up first.
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Morvruul prepares to lunge at the damai when he suddenly notices that Seggas has approached and is holding a scanner. He is momentarily overcome with anxiety over his prior awkward response to her. He sheathes his knife to free his hands, so to be ready just in case she decides to throw anything else his way.
"BUGS," Cha'mon Cha'mon yells as he comes face to face with the creatures.
Distracted, Morvruul is slow to look up to see the oncoming insects.
THIS is my opportunity to impress the Doctor! Morvruul decides upon seeing them.
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The whisperwings start swarming around Sturmvanger although Red looks a tad reluctant
plus fort save to resist drain (DC 9) - red
plus fort save to resist drain (DC 9) - green
plus fort save to resist drain (DC 9) - blue
- yellow
In addition, as a swift, the whisperwing adult produces a loud buzzing sound that disorients other creatures and can cause lasting internal damage. Any non-whisperwing within ten feet takes and must make a DC 11 fort save or be sickened for .
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Sickened by the loud buzzing, Cha'mon Cha'mon tries to extricate himself from the mass of swarming bugs around Sturm.
Away from the front lines now and with some room to breath he tosses aside his needler pistol and puts two hands on his plasma guide sniper rifle. Aiming for the biggest bug, he squeezes the trigger and sends a bolt of plasma at it.
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As the bugs pile on him, Sturmvanger is able to resist the discordant noise which helps him fight off the drain to his puissance caused by the bites of the other bugs.
But one of them strikes him much more solidly and effectively than the others.
He takes a moment to steel himself against further damage then focuses on new muscles in his right arm and a long, heavy blade made out of hardened bone extends from between his middle two knuckles. He slashes the weapon at the yellow bug.