GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter Four: The Blind City" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Zharis takes the zippered container to see what it is while Xylian looks at everything else.

If intra-solar exploration ever seems too daunting, it looks like Xylian has a future as an elevator repairman! His quick work on the antigrav unit aligns the elevator car correctly in the shaft.

Meanwhile, Zharis has a peek inside the zippered container.

Xylian's check succeeds. Please deduct 50 UPBs from the loot list.

Zharis pulls the datapad out of the container and takes a look at it.

Deducting the UPBs from the loot sheet and adding other things.

Zharis examines the datapad.

Xylian checks the elevator to see if there is any more to this building than there seems.

Secret hidden basement, PERCHANCE?!

Xylian checks to see if there's more to this building than there seems, but alas, it's exactly what it seems.

Sorry, no hidden basements. But you've done Otlo a favour, and if you need a HQ (or refuge), he might let you share the building!

Zharis opens the secret hatch, just to see how it works, but they have already been in that room, so nothing new to explore. She sets the datapad aside to give to Otlo so that he will have more information about his space.

That looks like it. Sad that there was no secret basement though. Back to the DCI then?

Jin looks around the building for any cultist vehicles that might've transported the weird snake they fought earlier.

When we are ready to leave, Jin will take the action mentioned above

Jin walks the perimeter of the building and spots an unmarked hover truck idling near the loading ramp!

Sorry Jin, missed that post earlier. Stats for the hover truck are here.

Nice. Added Hover Truck to the Loot sheet, assigned to Jin. Anyone else have something they want to do, or are we ready to move on?

We can take Otlo his treatos.

The trip back to the Deep Cultures Institute in your new hover truck goes without further incident. Staff there are reeling from the revelation that one of their own--Amaldriel--was secretly a cultist of Azathoth and willing to kill for his insane beliefs. Taeress has taken Nib home to recuperate, but Otlo has been installed in temporary accommodation in the DCI dorms. The orocoran has left a message in their unique parlance, requesting to examine the tablet as soon as possible.

But along with Otlo's request, the DCI's receptionist hands you a datapad containing a long-range transmission received while you were in the clinic. It's from the Near Space organisation on Pabaq that organised and sponsors this expedition, the Advanced Institute of Heliodic Studies! It seems you've been negligent in filing your required periodic progress reports, and if funding is to continue, this situation must be rectified immediately.

See Discussion thread for more on this last bit.

Life Science: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Tulgram briefly breaks away from studying fungus from Castrovel. Bah! Paperwork. I hate it, but toil is a blessing. Work yourself to exhaustion or die. Or find slaves...

Zharis drops off the tablet with Otlo, requesting that he allow no one else access for now since it seems to be the target of the cultists, then she goes back to her room to work on her report.

"Tablet tells tales! Yes, yes, yes!" With that, Otlo ignores you completely and sets to work.

It'll take Otlo several hours to review the tablet. I can fast-forward a bit, or if you have any "downtime" activities (purchases, etc.) you would like to do, please feel free.

I want to buy a drone with a video camera on it (make the story fluff real), but the only one I can find that comes with a camera is a relic-level item. It has other cool traits as well, and I would love to buy it if allowed: https://aonsrd.com/TechItems.aspx?ItemName=Imposter%20Drone&Family=None

If allowed, I would just use the imposter feature as my "stunt cat" for cool action shots, so if there is any game application you want to forbid, I would be fine with that. If that isn't an option, would you allow me to add a camera to a domestic drone or a thief drone even though it says they can't be modified/added to? They also have video camera scanners, but they don't fly... so that's also an option if you would allow me to add flight to that.

Spy drones don't actually say they have cameras, though it sounds like they do if you read the description, but not sure they can record or whatever. That option doesn't work for me just because they only work for 20 minutes at a time, and I need something that can follow me around all day.

How much cold hard cash do we have? Level 9 weapons are quite expensive, but considering previous struggles, Jin needs an upgrade quick

Uhhhh we have 8 bulk of polyfluid, which is equivalent to 8k monies and an additional 2k UBPs, so those could be used to craft up to 10K in items. Xylian can craft up to lvl 8 technological items.

@Zharis: Huh, that is weird! You'd think a floating camera drone would be a natural thing in a futuristic setting (I'm sure Zo! has loads of them). In any event, why don't we say that if you're willing to pay for a valet drone (which has manipulator arms and a 20 hour operation time) you could then purchase and have it hold a a video camera or enhanced camera depending on how much footage you want to record in a day. Not a perfect solution, but should get most of what you need.

I'm guessing that these reports are going to get us some cash soon... or else the DCI will provide us more for a next mission. And yeah, if Xylian can craft stuff, that's awesome too.

@GM ... Perfect, thanks. I'm buying a valet drone and an enhanced camera.

I'll wait another 12 hours or so real time to see if anyone else has anything, and then assume Otlo finishes his analysis.

Zharis is also taking the purple force field off her armor and replacing that slot with the electricity feature that was on her old armor. She'll keep the jump jets and the haste circuit for now, until/unless someone else wants those enhancements. I put my old armor and the purple force field upgrade on the loot sheet.

After the rigours of the battle against the cultists in the clinic, rest and some easy errands are on the agenda for the expedition team. Zharis dashes off a progress report to the team's sponsoring body and purchases a camera-bot to better "document" its heroic moments. Meanwhile, Jin ponders upgrading his arsenal--if the group's liquid cash reserves permit.

In the middle of the night, an excited comm message marked "Urgent" comes in from Nib: Otlo has finished his analysis on the tablet! In the DCI's conference room, the bandaged Nib, a wary Taeress, and the off-putting Otlo have assembled. Once everyone is seated, Otlo's jittery, telepathic 'voice' can be heard. They wave the tablet around while they speak, switching it often from claw to claw, as their six eyes move independently to focus on each of you at the same time!

“Tablet tells the trajectory to Ezorod, yes, tells trajectory, trajectory tells. Multifarious map. Serves as a key. Opens the black bubble of Ezorod, bubble black, a barrier of darkness. No door without the tablet. Tablet tells, too, of Ezorod’s treasures. Treasures told, too. Magical machinery, machine magic. Cold contrivances cloak and conserve Ezorod in stellar fires. But, tablet tells, tool of the Eshtayiv. An eldritch entity, Ezorod imprisons. For you, deadly darkness, darkness is death. Keep to the light.”

Everyone can update their taglines to return to full sp, hp, and rp, as well as restore any daily use abilities.

Zharis listens and the message seems to be "This tablet can lead you to death and danger," and as she looks skeptically at Nib, she assumes that is where she wants them to go.

The promise of treasure relieves her a little, but still...

So wait, this leads to some dark prison place... with an eldritch entity? Guessing the entity was imprisoned for a reason. And darkness is death and all that... is this darkness we can see through with our natural darkvision, or is this something magical? And what is an Eshtayiv? Is that the entity, or is Ezorod the entity... or the name of the place? ... I assume you want us to go there? ... I mean, it does sound interesting scientifically, but it also sounds... I mean, Otlo said it himself, deadly. Is this entity something we want to risk freeing, or even confronting? Are we messing with something we shouldn't touch here? That cultist guy was crazy, I know, but maybe he had a point?

Listening to Otlo, Nib's face glows with excitement and she talks right past Zharis. "Great! I'll have our techs get the Sun Diver up to speed! I sent Lurian some of the read-outs from your trip to Noma, and she texted back some ideas for improvements. Oh, and she wanted me to tell you that working in that garage isn't really so bad."

Taeress represses a sigh and squeezes Nib's hand, demonstrating infinite patience. "Sweetie, I think you need to listen to what your friend Zharis is trying to say here. Exploration is dangerous enough, but they could actually contribute to the release of a great evil. Sometimes it's better to let sleeping ksariks lie. I bet with a little work and time, we could find something else interesting in the sun to investigate."

Otlo's telepathic voice fills the room, though it's not clear who he's responding to or which side he's taking. "Ezorod’s eternal ebony anchors Eshtayiv, a cruel creature of countless constituents conglomerated. Opponent of Outer Gods, but no friend of ours. The Eshtayiv is, they are, ravenous radiance, devourers of flesh and soul. Ravenous radiance. Named also the Incandescent Doom.”

Uh...

I mean, "Incandescent Doom" was a GREAT title, honestly, and it sounded like a great pitch for a movie starring the one and only Zharis, but... outer gods and "devourers of flesh and soul" sounded worse than cannibals even. Very dramatic, but also perhaps unwise.

She looks at the rest of the party to see if they are enthused about the science part of it.

Er, Otlo... so, is there really any reason to go to this place, or is it just pure evil?

"Treasure" whispered her mind, reminding her. "Treasure and a blockbuster movie for sure" ... but she brushed it off, waiting to see if there was actually some mostly-suicidal reason that they should go there. I mean, can you even talk to this ravenous conglomeration called Eshtayiv? It didn't sound like it really needed a cultural liaison as much as a well-placed weapon of mass destruction.

"You said there was treasure, right Otlo?" adds Nib, hopefully.

Otlo answers: "Ancient artifacts. Ezorod’s engineers erected enclosure with eldritch equipment. Black bubble. Ensures Ezorod’s existence over eons. Lost lore, lost lore. Tablet tells tantalizing tales of treasure trove: Illuminant Heart. Trove of treasures."

"Seems like Dr. Vershian might have been right about the tablet." Jin adds in, after searching about Ezorod in his memory.

Zharis realizes that Otlo must be referring to hybrid equipment that creates a bubble strong enough to endure if not totally repel stellar forces deeper within Mataras, keeping out not only the destructive forces but also the light. ... That would be some amazing technology to recover. Even her father, who usually made light of Zharis' accomplishments, would see that as an accomplishment.

She glanced at Jin and nodded her agreement.

He may have been right to be afraid of going there, or breaching the prison if that is what it is. Not sure of his motivations though. He was still crazy, and tortured our friends out of devotion to some evil entity, so not inclined to trust him completely.

Nib, I can tell you want this to happen, but even with treasure and technology there enticing us to go find this place, we still need to know what we are facing. I mean...

She turns to Otlo again.

...this Eshtayiv, who opposes the outer gods and who may be one or many... can we even face something like that or will we be squashed like bugs? Treasure is useless in the hands of the dead.

(That was a good line from one of her famous roles as a thief/graverobber, but it was applicable, and she was pretty sure Otlo hadn't seen the film.)

Also, what are the consequences here? Does the tablet talk about this Eshtayiv and what happens if we accidentally let it out? Does it destroy the universe? I feel like there is a lot of information missing here about the survivability of the whole thing.

Otlo's answer to Zharis' question is ambiguous: “Ezorod is lightless. The Eshtayiv’s attention curses the darkness. Their curse is death. Remain in the light and live. Light, live. Live, light. If the light departs, you die in the dark. Dark death.”

Nib gets a word in quickly. "Well, we could just send extra flashlights! No worries there. Otlo, do you know anything more about Illuminant Heart treasure?"

All six of Otlo's eyes raise to the ceiling as the orocoran sinks deeply into thought before answering. “Ezorod’s center, it is there and not there. Placement puzzling, puzzling placement. It is inside, underneath, alongside, above. All sides and none.”

Despite her partner's obvious enthusiasm, Taeress doesn't seem convinced. "It seems awfully dangerous to risk so much for what frankly seems to me to be more folktale and superstition than hard science," she says. "No offense, Otlo. Maybe we should turn our attention in a different direction. Remember those reports the DCI's been getting from telepaths across the Burning Archipelago about vague 'feelings' coming in from sunward? Perhaps with a few weeks' time, we could pin down that lead . . ."

"For someone so concerned with 'hard science', you want us to waste time on vague apprehensions from scattered telepaths?!?" says Nib with disbelief. "At least we know the tablet's real! You can reach out and touch it!"

It seems like the unhealthy dynamic between the pair--one filled with the thrill of discovery and the other with the cautiously incremental pace of science--is butting its ugly head again . . .

A (pretty high) Mysticism check might tell you a touch more about the Illuminant Heart.

Whoa, whoa. Not that old argument again you guys. Nib, clearly Taeress has learned to consider opinions and possibilities beyond traditional science... that is something you should be proud of her for. And Taeress, this is a really strange ancient legend from a priceless artifact. Anyone with any sense of curiosity would want to find out what is on the other side. You guys both have valid points. This sounds really dangerous, but also really exciting.

Diplomacy to soothe them, trying to not start another rift between them.: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 15 + (6) + 1 = 26

So, let's move forward with the the assumption that this journey is not going to destroy the universe, and isn't certain death... though I reserve the right to cancel the trip if we discover otherwise. So, with the assumption that we aren't going to die or throw the universe out of whack, what do we need? Lots of flashlights, maybe mounted on drones so we have our hands free for weapons? Is that enough Otlo, or is it the kind of darkness that no one can see through and where mundane light sources won't work? I mean... it is in the middle of the sun, so it seems like that must be pretty strong darkness.

Also, what other preparations would you recommend? You know what is in the tablet and we don't, so I'd be interested in your suggestions.

I'm crap at mysticism... anyone else good at it? Here's my roll anyway, but hope someone else has a better bonus.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Zharis' quick intervention reminds Nib and Taeress that they were about to spiral into the pattern that drove them apart in the first place, and they both look abashed. They whisper together, heads bowed, and then nod in agreement. Taeress speaks to the group first: "We want you to know that you have our full support, whatever you decide. Sometimes progress in science does come from pushing the boundaries."

Nib adds: "But curiosity doesn't justify foolhardiness, and the DCI will always have interesting opportunities for you to pursue. We'll take a walk and leave you to it. Just comm when you've decided."

The pair walk out, hand in hand.

Otlo doesn't seem to have noticed (or care) about the interruption. "Light is limited but light lets life live. Lots of light brings best banishment of badness. But black bubble! Take time to take tablet and transpose transmitter. Tablet develops door. Divider, defender, doorway."

@Zharis: Excellent work at the Diplomacy check. (the Mysticism check wasn't high enough, alas).

Zharis realizes what Otlo is getting at... that they need to connect the tablet to the sensors in order to open a way into the dark bubble... of badness. She still has second thoughts, but...

But I assume this is the way the story line goes.

... it really was a great, historical opportunity, and if she filmed the whole thing, it could be a great documentary. Give it a voiceover narration and it would be gold... or pull in a film crew and replace a few scientists with better actors, and it could be movie of the year... or decade, really. Who else goes to a dark bubble of evil in order to find treasure? NO ONE, that's who.

Well, crew, are we doing this? If so, we are going to need lots of light. I hope the DCI is feeling generous.

Anyone know if Starfinder has ioun stones? In Pathfinder you can buy an ioun stone torch for cheap... just a light spell that floats and goes along with you. That would be super convenient here.

"We're being asked to take an unbelievable risk here, and the benefits seem vague. Then again, exploring the unknown has a certain charm to it. As far as the certain danger, I have already been swallowed whole twice, set on fire, and nearly beat to death. I'm willing to continue to exhibit bravery."

Hani considers the tablet. "I will explore options for integrating and networking the table with the sensors and other systems aboard the ship. Hopefully that can help with finding this place we're looking for."

"If that is the mission the DCI has planned for us, I do not mind. It certainly is not any more ludicrous than what we have been previously assigned to." Jin is ready to follow the setup, with a light heart, knowing his system is far, far away from this madness.

Sounds good. Hani, can you make sure that the connections to the tablet are ones that don't harm its value, and also that it is easily removable? When we get to the planet/place/whatever I want to remove it and take it with us... no sense leaving it a sitting duck for whatever lives there. If that is the key to them escaping (and us getting home), we are going to want it with us constantly.

I'm thinking like a docking station of some kind where all the connections are to the slot and we can put it in and out at will. Is that possible? I don't care if it takes a lot longer to do it that way. I don't believe we are on a deadline here.

In response to Jin, Zharis smiles.

You have a point, Jin. We've been on a constant schedule of crazy, so this isn't all that surprising.

Nib and the rest of the Deep Cultures Institute are thrilled by the group's decision to explore the mysterious destination named in the tablet. The DCI's engineers help with retrofitting the Sun Diver for a journey even deeper into the sun, while the organisation's quartermaster, Beran, assembles a list of supplies. The ysoki seems noticeably warmer toward you than last time--it seems you've started to earn her trust.

You are provided 12 more Build Points for the Sun Diver.

Beran provides you with the following equipment: 6 bulk of siccatite, 300 UPBs for the mk 3 culinary synthesizer, and the same survey drone (a specialized spy drone with enhanced camera and shotgun microphone scanners) and datapad (a hardened tier 2 computer with a control module for the drone and secure data storage) as last time. Since Ezorod is expected to be dark, the normally solar-powered drone is outfitted with two ultra-capacity batteries enough to power it for 100 hours (or half that time if you add a beacon or similar light to the drone). Last, she provides a credit line of 9,000 credits the group can draw on for its own equipment requests.

"Seems contradictory. A creature of light, locked in a prison of darkness, inside a star, that opposes beings - if you will - that inhabit the dark spaces between galaxies. The Eshtayiv bring death, but it is darkness that is dangerous? Interesting." Xylian says in a bored tone. "Could be useful, should the outer gods turn their gaze towards Mataras." Xylian does not question the potential danger of the proposed mission. If all knowledge in the universe could be aquired without risk, there would be nothing left to uncover.

Is there haggling possible with the DCI and Beran? I feel like we need more siccatite than that, and we could always use more money. If we're allowed, I am going to have my character argue for hazard pay. :)

Tulgram sits deep in thought. Aye, I agree to go there too. I admit that this will be my last trip. But such a chance is given once in a lifetime. Duergar looks you all over. It's an honor to work with such a team. He is absolutely serious and calm, like an alpinist before climbing to the top of a notorious and deadly mountain. Let's rest, improve the ship and get on the road.

Zharis smiles at Beran.

Hey Beran, we are going to need more siccatite than that. We only had one left over from our first trip and it was close. If we had run into the same problems on the way out as on the way in, we wouldn't have made it. I know it is a rare material, but honestly, we need like double that amount, just in case.

Also, you know we love the DCI and we're more than willing to help out, but this mission requires not just safety backups like that siccatite, but also some serious hazard pay. We're going up against something that the "elder gods" trapped in a darkness bubble... probably with good reason. And my group, they are scientists, not combat soldiers. We're going to need a super modern weapon for Jin, and better armor protection for these scientists, and with only 9,000 credits, I mean I realize that seems like a lot to the company maybe for a regular mission, but this is well beyond a regular mission. If we can't go well-equipped flying into that kind of unknown, I'm not sure we'll be able to bring the ship back in one piece, let alone ourselves. Please, Beran, the DCI needs to support us further on this one. You know how much it costs to get some of these upgrades. I mean, this haste circuit alone is worth more than you are offering us, and we have one only because we pulled it off the body of someone who tried to kill us. Our enemies are well-equipped and we can't keep up. I'm begging you here, please give us the ability to equip ourselves well enough to have a real chance out there. I think we've earned it, and it can only help the DCI to make a further investment in us since we have done so much for it already.

Diplomacy to Haggle: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 15 + (2) + 1 = 38

Oh yes! What a roll! 4 below my max.

Also, never forget my ability when considering negotiations:

You are highly skilled at convincing others and reaching amicable agreements. If a creature’s initial attitude toward you would be unfriendly, indifferent, or friendly, you instead treat its attitude as one category higher. When you fail a Diplomacy check to change the attitude of a hostile creature by 10 or less, you can attempt to change its attitude again. Whenever an ally uses aid another to assist you with a Diplomacy check to change a creature’s attitude, if you succeed at that check, the targeted creature’s attitude toward your ally also improves.

So, if she is already friendly, that should bump her up to the next level already, even before I start talking, I think. :)

Dice never lies, they say .)

Beran absent-mindedly passes something between her cheek pouches as she listens to Zharis. "I never thought Lu's crazy ship design would hold up. Did I ever tell you I took engineering courses with her? But I can admit when I'm wrong. Still, something that works once might not work twice, and you're asking for an awful lot that might just burn up . . ." She sighs. "Okay. Four more bulk of siccatite--that's all we have. And I'll extend the credit line by another 5,000. But you'll need to sign here--" she slides over an inventory management datapad "and here--" she slides over a legal release form "and . . . here . . ." she slides over what can only be a bootleg of As the Black Hole Turns, not even licensed for sale in the Pact Worlds!

Zharis smiles and signs it all, but on the last one she pulls out a silver glitter pen that she may have inadvertently "borrowed" from Cabizo at one point, and uses that to sprawl her famous signature across the entire front of the bootleg collector's edition. Who knows where Beran found it, but she was certain that with her signature it was worth plenty.

It seems fair to her, but she reminds herself to get her father on arranging an official licensing agreement for the Pact Worlds. Maybe she could do an official tour here before she left... if they survived dark death world, of course.

Having obtained some extra credits from Beran, now comes the hard part: deciding how to spend it!

@Everyone: There's no rush from my end. When you get your ship and gear sorted, just holler and me (and Hop) will be ready to go.

Jin, I think you offered the suggestions on how to equip the ship last time, correct? We have 12 build points, and the link to our ship is in my tagline, and I think that is where we are starting (unless we tweaked it since before the trip to get the tablet... but I think we just repaired, not changed). Also, how much do you need for your weapon? That will help us know what we have left to distribute/spend on other things.

Hani works on integrating the tablet with the systems on the ship.

engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Remember that we need to be able to remove it at will, Hani.

Zharis also practices storing the tablet in her glove of storing, to make sure it works, since she worried that the cultists would be after it and she didn't want to fail protecting it again.

Hani has no trouble installing the tablet (with a quick-release mechanism) in the Sun Runner.

Installing the tablet is specifically called out as not triggering the delicate mechanisms aspect of the ship, so there's no risk of something going wrong.

It sounds like most of you are done with equipment/purchases? Does anyone have suggestions on how to spend your ship's new build points? (you can also save them for the future).

With his last bit of spare time, Hani proceeds with his new hobby of robot maintenance. Specifically, he attempts to repair the found deckhand 'bot and return it to service.

engineering check to repair: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39

Not only is it working, he's dressed it in a red cocktail dress and named it Roxanne.