The maintenance room is right near by and Momo is quickly able to hit the button activating the system. Screeching emits from the vents, both from stridermander whelps and old systems. Still after a moment air begins to flow through the vents and smoke slowly filters out of the room.
With a few minutes the nest is destroyed and the room is cleared.
Brigadier Teshgari gives a nod of thanks to Momo and Jomp is happy to somewhat safer. Mimzy is celebrating this by heading past the destroyed nest into the kitchen with ecstatic glee. "Oh they left water running, and there is so much left behind!"
She is making use of all six arms as opens up the cabinets and cupboards. Into her arms she is grabbing every glass, pot, and piece of silverware that she can reasonably carry. Then she goes behind and begins carrying even more as she fills her bag and attempts to carry the remainder in her full arms. "All of this is just wonderful cookware that is yearning for use!"
The matter dealt with, and smoke not blocking sight, Darkrunner has a easier time seeing into the southwest room without threat of splitting the party. It is a dismal garden that has been overrun by mold and fungus.
There is a jumbled pile of bones and colorful fur heaped at the room's center marking this site as a mass grave.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the west wall overlook the mess so Darkrunner still has a fairly clear view of Mimzy clearing the contents of the kitchen utensils.
Momo and Darkrunner look into the room and opt to not enter or investigate it further for now.
The door to the east is access to a small lavatory. The lighting in the room is still functioning along with the facilities, but it doesn't seem to have seen any use for many years.
|
Poor souls... Momo feels the grief of the fallen, entering almost unfiltered into her head. Immediately, she start the silent hum of a song
There's a glimmer in the sky
Quiet calm after this stormy weather
Though it's not too bright
It's a guiding light
Like the memories of us together
You're my starlight
You're my starlight
No need to be bright like the sunlight
You shine even without the moonlight
You're my starlight
You're my starlight
Though the road ahead is dark
And you've got your whole life behind you
I am right by your side
It will all be alright
Knowing forever your memory
Shines bright
Mimzy looks through the glass and offers, "well we do what we are able to help out at memorials and celebrate them. I don't know them but I can certainly try to help!"
The Brigadier holds ready as the part slowly moves into the room. Skip's efforts are not well received though as the door slams shut and throws people the ground. There is a spectral wind that flows among the fungal growth and a mournful wail. Mimzy holds out a meat pie as and offering and the Brigadier fires several shots as she tries to force open the door again.
Momo's song though is able to settle and slow the spectres and the dull the moans. The skittermanders Mimzy and Jomp hum along with the song. Brigadier Teshgari is still at the door but barely holds off unleashing another set of shots. The hold on the door releases and the Brigadier quickly takes a step out of the room.
In a burst of light, a translucent green skittermander materializes in the garden, hovering over the pile of bones. "Shh, shh, shh," the spirit soothes, shaking her head forlornly. "They don’t mean to hurt you, she explains. "They're just confused. All they remember is pain."
The spirit floats about and turns her attention to you, the living, then crinkles her nose and points at Brigadier Teshgari accusingly. She snaps out at you all as she cries out, "why'd you bring these meanies into my garden? Haven't they done enough?"
|
|
In a burst of light, a translucent green skittermander materializes in the garden, hovering over the pile of bones. "Shh, shh, shh," the spirit soothes, shaking her head forlornly. "They don’t mean to hurt you, she explains. "They're just confused. All they remember is pain."
I understand Momo says softly, but sincerely, and adds all they were doing was trying to help. Momo can't help but look visibly guilty for bringing the vesk in.
The spirit floats about and turns her attention to you, the living, then crinkles her nose and points at Brigadier Teshgari accusingly. She snaps out at you all as she cries out, "why'd you bring these meanies into my garden? Haven't they done enough?"
We're here to make sure your garden becomes beautiful again Momo says in a slight bend of the truth. There are stridermanders in your home, and we want to remove them. In a sense, we're here to help, to return a favour.
As Momo tries to smooth things over, the spirit flits around as they look at you and and glare harder at Brigadier Teshgari before their face lightens. Mimzy and Jomp burst into the room with armed with silverware before they good a look at the spirit. Her scowl breaks into a laughters. "Hey! This isn't the vesk who killed me!"
She bounds back with a number of spectral hands clasped together. "You should have just said that in the first place!"
"Hi nufriends! I'm Sprout! I was a gardener before I died and I would really like help fixing my garden. I would say that being dead has been a big bother! My seeds are in my room, the sprinklers have been turned off. There is light now though! Has been quite dark for a bit before that. The fungus doesn't need much of that though to grow."
Brigadier Teshgari does not entertain this event and steps out of the room. She folder her arms as she allows you to interact with Sprout.
Jomp and Mimzy are heartened and have smiles as they wave hello and introduce themselves to Sprout.
|
Schuka greets Sprout in a best manner. She does not has idea whats wrong with this gardener, but likely he has liquid condition or something.
She shows on the screen
- Irrigation system and some plants care you say? I'd in!
The stellifera is pretty agitated and suggests both skittermanders to folow her - additional hand (o dozan) might be usefull!
"Oh yes. I think I left those back in there. We all tried to keep our personal things back in there so we didn't get in each others way. Although Tipps spend most of their time at the computer so they made that very homey for themselves." Sprout is just happy and floats around as she confirms the location for Skip.
Mimzy and Jomp follow close behind Schuka as they are both delighted to be able to help someone. Brigadier Teshgari follows behind with her weapon ready as she eyes the corners.
Momo finds the sprinkler system easy to activate. With a flip of the toggle a light mist of water begins to coat the garden. Sprout happily looks over the water passing through them and flies about the area before declaring, "good! They are still working!"
Within the barracks the area is mostly as the group left it. However, with the restoration of the power systems, the speaker system is active and playing skittermander folk music sunc by a manic, feminine voice. The lyrics magic those of Prismacora's songs on the computer system.
Jomp and Mimzy dance around with the music with delight. They sing along with the chorus and continue to repeat it as they help gather the seeds. Some of the jars are broken but there are plenty and it is easily to bring them to the garden.
"Oh great! I am glad so many of them kept safe!" Sprout notes with delight. "You know that this place has taken a bit of a beating over the years, but the work we put it still is holding it together strong!"
"Lots of different things! We knew our mission would leave us underground a long time, although even this is longer than we expected. So when we came down I brought all sorts of plants from the surface so we could grow our own food or decorations." Sprout is delighted and spins around the air about Darkrunner within the gardens as they look at the jars and point their varied hands at them. "Those are hifradadelions a wonderful flower with shifting colors. That jar has the green-yellow flowers and that has the red-blue flowers. They were such wonderful in the spring. That jar has darontechamps, just swell vegetables that taste so sweet once they ripen and make for wonderful meals for harvest celebrations."
"Although now that we are all dead I think the garden could serve to be pretty decor! There hasn't been a lot of color here in a long while and the lights being off wasn't helping with that, I'll tell you!"
They happily detail the contents of the varying jars and don't necessarily seem to pick up on the discomfort they might be causing as a spirit flitting about the room. In part they are overjoyed to see their long lost seeds again. "It feels so good to be able to have these here. I do feel bad for my friends. They aren't well at all and I wish I could help them. If you could I would love for you to help them feel better."
|
|
They happily detail the contents of the varying jars and don't necessarily seem to pick up on the discomfort they might be causing as a spirit flitting about the room. In part they are overjoyed to see their long lost seeds again. "It feels so good to be able to have these here. I do feel bad for my friends. They aren't well at all and I wish I could help them. If you could I would love for you to help them feel better."
What would cheer your friends up? Momo says, a little surprised that the ghost is sticking around. In most of the supernatural dramas she watches, the ghost disappears after you give them what they want. Also, you should try akitonian strawberries. They make pretty flowers and have nice, sweet fruit.
"Well they all loved different sorts of things, so the things to cheer them up would all be different" responds Sprout as the rotate midair with one hand on their chin. With a clap of a few sets of spectral hands Sprout declares, "Prismacora loved to sing and make music. Viverivim was a great painter! He was married to Bixby, you know. Bixby was a visionary! He thought if we helped skittermanders join the Veskarium's family we'd be the greatest helpers ever!"
"Too bad it didn’t work. I guess we didn’t help enough..." they pause midair in a discouraged tone.
A mere moment later they find their thoughts again and return to their friends with more joyful recollections, "Tipps loved cartoons and was really great with computers. They even made Compy! Compy used to be in one of the small rooms down the middle hall." They come to the edge of the garden and gesture down the hall to the room with the terminal before floating back to room center.
"Razzlefrazz was old and clumsy and had a really long beard! He loved to make fireworks and see things explode! He got blown up, though." The thought is a sour note that gives Sprout pause as they conclude, "I'm not sure he liked that."
|
|
"Well they all loved different sorts of things, so the things to cheer them up would all be different" responds Sprout as the rotate midair with one hand on their chin. With a clap of a few sets of spectral hands Sprout declares, "Prismacora loved to sing and make music. Viverivim was a great painter! He was married to Bixby, you know. Bixby was a visionary! He thought if we helped skittermanders join the Veskarium's family we'd be the greatest helpers ever!"
"Too bad it didn’t work. I guess we didn’t help enough..." they pause midair in a discouraged tone.
Momo nods in silence, and then says I saw... Prismacora's instrument is still there, but I wouldn't be able to play it Apologetically, she holds up her two hands. I think I also saw some of Viverivim's paintings.
A mere moment later they find their thoughts again and return to their friends with more joyful recollections, "Tipps loved cartoons and was really great with computers. They even made Compy! Compy used to be in one of the small rooms down the middle hall." They come to the edge of the garden and gesture down the hall to the room with the terminal before floating back to room center.
Yufriend... nufriend... Momo hums almost automatically when cartoons are mentioned.
We've met Compy. He is very helpful. He told us about what... her voice becomes more hesitant happened... here...
"Razzlefrazz was old and clumsy and had a really long beard! He loved to make fireworks and see things explode! He got blown up, though." The thought is a sour note that gives Sprout pause as they conclude, "I'm not sure he liked that."
No, that's an awful experience... Momo says with a blank stare, and sigh ...and terrible to be around...
"Well why are you apologizing? I can't play it either. I best she would have liked to try and teach you," the spectral Sprout declares missing the point.
Recalling to the Momo's reference to what Compy shared, Sprouts gives a wide ghostly smile. "Tipps would be happy to know Compy helped you out! I hope Compy showed you all the good stuff we did as the Allsix Assist. This was the base and a center of helping works for our team." Sprout flies up into the air posing their arms on the hips and chest. Pointing out toward the surface they day, "we made sure to do a lot of good to help so many people. We make sure to help the Veskarium do all kinds of stuff."
"Until the soldiers came and shot us-which was super rude." Sprout looks down in a huff as they are quite perturbed about the matter. They gesture down to the garden where they note, "I died here. I'm not sure where my friend died, but when I woke were all heaped together."
They look a bit forlorn to the ground as they say, "they can't remember anything though right now."
|
Darkrunner is unsure where this is going, but he's interested in how else spirits might be able to help.
Do your friends sometimes wander these halls as you do here? Also, are you aware of creatures that have taken up residence in this complex? Perhaps you noticed what corridors they have moved into?
He doesn't refer to them by name, stridermanders, but he hopes the spirits have actively observed them.
|
|
Is there some way you can let Tipps know? Momo says, a bit uncertain about formalities in the afterlife.
I was just thinking that Prismacora would have loved to hear a song. Momo says to sprout.
A bit forlorn herself, she decides to retrieve the instrument anyway. Mimzy, Jomp, do any of you know...
If they don't, she'll just put it next to the piles of bones and tries to sing a verse.
Here's wishing you the bluest sky
And hoping something better comes tomorrow
Hoping all the verses rhyme
And the very best of choruses, too
Follow all the doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on the way
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
That is wonderful how different forms of afterlife remain here in neighbourhood without acknowledge each other.
The stellifera push out some blobs from the water, supporting the rhyem. She remember ers to meet other ghosts with good words and chanting, so she check poor sound system integrated in basic watertank computer
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Do your friends sometimes wander these halls as you do here? Also, are you aware of creatures that have taken up residence in this complex? Perhaps you noticed what corridors they have moved into?
"No," responds Sprout as they shake their head dejectedly. "They all remain here. Appear once in while, but only for moments and confused. I haven't been to leave my garden, although I don't think I'd want do. I can't tell but they don't go anywhere else either."
To the question of other creatures Sprout quickly realizes, "oh, you mean the stridermanders? Yes, they came here recently an have made the place far more lively after years of quiet."
"The little ones visit sometimes. A big one came in and stole some of our bones once, which was super means!" They huff a bit at the theft before letting any animosity evaporate as they admit, "But I suppose they need them more than we do."
Is there some way you can let Tipps know? Momo says, a bit uncertain about formalities in the afterlife.
"Well, just as well as you I think," Sprout says gesturing to the bones. "Tipps is here with everyone else, but I'm not sure if they can understand well. I'm not sure any of them can."
I was just thinking that Prismacora would have loved to hear a song. Momo says to sprout.
A bit forlorn herself, she decides to retrieve the instrument anyway. [/b]Mimzy, Jomp, do any of you know...[/b]
If they don't, she'll just put it next to the piles of bones and tries to sing a verse.
Mimzy and Jomp are happy to offer their musical singing, but neither of them has learned to play any instruments, although they make it clear that they are both willing to learn.
As Momo lays the triticale next to the pile of bonus there is a manifestation of swirls of light and color that quickly combine and form a into another skittermander that glows with a pink aura. She stretches and shake her head for a moment before leaping to Sprout and giving them a big hug. "It is a supertastic day to talk to you Sprout! I mean I feel like I've been wandering about for the longest of times"
Sprout responds in kind and cheers. The new spirit looks at all of you and has a glimmer of curiosity and a smile as they say with wave, "hello nufriends! I'm Prismacora and it is wonderful to meet you all. It has been a bit of a blur since I died, but I want to say I think you just brought my instrument? If you did thank you so much!"
Sprout proclaims, "yes they brought here and helped you feel better! They were even singing a song for you!" Looking to the team they add, "could you help the rest?"
* * * *
Meanwhile, outside the gardens Brigadier Teshgari keeps watch on the corners as she glances at the gathering spirits and notes, "Skittermander over-help is a recurring problem on Vesk-3 and must be carefully managed. Left unchecked it has caused embarrassment, military disasters, and civilian death. If these skittermanders where attacked by the Veskarium, they did something to deserve it. Caused some catastrophe, no doubt."
Sprout hears and flies up to garden door as they say, "well I might be a bit biased, but I'm going to have to disagree. We caused no such bother for good people."
|
|
Darkrunner is torn in what they should do. Teshgari certainly wants them to just get down to business and help her hunt a trophy, but something tugs at him to want to resolve things for each skitter spirit.
So, beging married to Bixby you can perhaps help us with what would make him happy and restore his spirit? And as for Tipps, perhaps we need to access something on the comp... I mean "Compy", or restore Compy further?
He looks to Prismacora expectantly, hoping this can all go fast so that they don't exhaust Teshgari's patience.
Prismacora looks around in response to the question before responding, "Neither of us were married to Bixby. Viverivim was married to Bixby and they really loved each other. They had the most beautiful wedding. I helped out by playing music during the event and everyone had an extraordinary time there."
Sprout nods with agreement as she wipes away spectral tears of joyful recollection. Mimzy and Jomp cheer on and support the fact. Jomp even says, "we even saw bits of it here. I cleaned off some of the pictures from the event and it looked to be a wonderful event. I wish I could have been there!"
The pink highlighted spirit smiles and offers to write some music for Jomp for any other celebrations they have before being brought to the matter at hand. "Bixby loved all the work we did together and the one that coordinated the plans for us to help so many and unite our world with the Veskarium. So he loved my music and Sprouts plants. I will say though his love for Viverivim was the absolutely, biggest and greatest."
"Tipps was also super nice and the best of us at working on computers." Prismacora looks and nods with Sprout in mutual agreement. "I wish I could help out more with this spiritual fixing. I know music can soothe the spirit-and that helped me- but I don't know how to fix Compy, although Tipps should be proud Compy is still working."
After another moment she adds, "Tipps does love watching a lot of cartoon shows and sharing them with us. He even got lots of cute toys and figures from the shows that he put all over his workspaces."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Brigadier Teshgari: Vesk military officer looking for big game hunting.
Mimzy: Skittermander aid to Brigadier Teshgari. Mobile nutritionist.
Jomp: Skittermander aid to Brigadier Teshgari. Artillery aide.
Sprout: Skittermander spirit. Interests include gardening.
Prismacora: Skittermander spirit. Interests include skittermander-folk music.
Viverivim: Confused/unmanifested skittermander spirit. Interests include painting portraits and landscapes. Married to Bixby.
Bixby: Confused/unmanifested skittermander spirit. Leader of the Allsix Assist. Interests are teamwork friendship and their love for Viverivim. Married to Viverivim.
Tipps: Confused/unmanifested skittermander spirit. Computer specialist that created Compy. Interests include cartoons from their era including media and toys.
Razzlefrazz: Confused/unmanifested skittermander spirit. Interests include fireworks and explosions.
Allsix Assist: The group of six skittermanders that operated within this base.
Compy: AI that exists on the Allsix Assist's computer system helping with access to data.
Adrovor (Has not been named up to now): The undead vesk that perished in an explosion during attack on base. Former member of Veskarium military.
Vesk-3 (Oeddertchonk): Skittermander home world and location of your current mission. Species from the planet tend to have eight limbs including skittermanders and stridermanders.
Ewagadravona: Town you arrived in upon reaching planet. Fortified town on continent of Aberanderen and entracne into Gadraveech.
Gadraveech: The subterranean realm below the surface of this planet. A highly dangerous region composed of a maze of tunnels and caverns. Source of a large number of dangerous beasts.
Prismacora doesn't know the status of the computer and repairs even if she were in front of it. She and Sprout ruminate a bit on what it it would take to bring the computer over here, but say the sprinkler system might be good for the computer over the daily, scheduled waterings.
|
|
Oh Jomp, Momo says, that is really helpful. Let's find the paintings of Viverivim, and the pictures of their wedding. Didn't we find the wedding band of Bixby as well?
She proceeds to gather the items, as well as the cartoon media device (re-inserting the battery she placed before), and the box of firecrackers. She has a look over the stuffed toys, but won't take them unless she finds an undamaged one.
On the way back, she talks to Compy Hi again, Compy. I need your help to do something for Tipps She looks at the computer to see if it can be moved in some way. I want to make you visible in the gardens she says, pointing to Sprout's room, do you think you can route yourself to one of my friend's comm devices?
Once back in the gardens, she sets out the items as one would do in a remembrance ceremony, and starts the intro of Yufriend nufriend. She works through the whole thing with a silent solemnity.
|
|
Schuka is impressed and confused about how much diversity can afterlife have. She is not a person to interfere without request, but she dicides to follow Momo collecting nostalgia things.
She also asks all the ex-skittermanders via screen and bulbing if...
- Is here can be found any medical bay or autodoc? We have crippled no more vesk as a neighbour.
Shcuka also sends couple telepathic messages to the brigadier.
- I see skittermanders have good intentions, but bring a lot of chaos which may be crucial for vesks. What do you think regarding?
Running back to gather the various items from the rooms Momo, Schuka and Jomp come along with a small array of the items including a few of the intact toys.
Compy is delighted to provide information but does say, "I'm certain if you open up access I could connect to a device within the building. I don't think I have any output on the gardens as of yet, but I have many of Sprout's pictures I can share." Compy is already showing off various pictures of grown plants in the garden as you head back to the garden with relics in hand.
The group doesn't even get into the ceremony as the spirits appear one by one as you lay the items down. Four more skittermander spirits with various colored auras about each of them appear. Each time there is a cheer and hugs are exchanged until all six are together and hugging and cheering. They all say how wonderful it is to see each other again.
Looking toward you after that reunion they all also continue waving as they give ecstatic introductions. They float around each other with smiles on their faces. Sprout themselves explains that you all helped them all and is the first that thanks you, "you did a great thing, even better than helping me with the garden, you helped my friends. Such good people helping out is like coming upon a pretty flower. Thank you!" Looking around the room they also say, "oh, and if you wanted any of this fungi around, you can certainly have as much as you want. I know that there are some kinds that are hard to find up on the surface!"
Tipps looks at Schuka's question on the screen and comments, "that display is so detailed!" They then think and repeat the question to the others and they all think. Tipps gives a thoughtful twirl as they say, "well we didn't have a big med lab as we didn't have enough money for one yet. I do think that we had a medkit in the maintenance room to tend our wounds. Hopefully they are still functioning after so much time. I made sure to order materials that would last a while, but it has been a long time."
Shcuka also sends couple telepathic messages to the brigadier.
- I see skittermanders have good intentions, but bring a lot of chaos which may be crucial for vesks. What do you think regarding?
Brigadier Teshgari grimaces a bit in response as she watches the halls for movement, contemplating Shcuka's message. She admits in a gruff voice, "this expedition is certainly far from what I expected. I've had to pivot it to deal with the nests and I have no position to command you to stop settling these spirits."
"However, the Veskarium does not need chaos and especially not the kind skittermanders are capable of making." Her voice is firm as her sight as she looks and keeps ready. "Skittermanders are capable of an incredible amount of determination and resolve that can move planets. Few can . Without guidance though, that unchecked power can cause devastation."
|
|
Darkrunner rejoins the Brigadier once it seems that all of the spirits are rejoined and happy.
I think we've done as much as we can to set things right for the skittermander spirits, and in the grand scheme of things it didn't really take so long! What do you say to finishing that hunt for stridermanders?
He assumes she will be relieved and ready to move on. When the rest of the party is ready, he gathers them at the Eastern double doors and throws them open!
|
|
Momo also decides not to push her luck with the brigadier.
She does take a moment to converse with Tipps I spoke to Compy earlier, she says your creation is very impressive, and still working to this day. Compy mentioned a password protected compartment that only you have access to. Is there something you would need from there?
Tipps is all smiles upon hearing about Compy, "I'm glad you think so. It was a lot of nights of fun getting Compy working and it is wonderful they are still working." They do look a bit confused though as the question about the compartment. "Well there wasn't anything I set that only I had access to. We all shared the computer together! Oh! If you need access to the files you just need to tell tell Compy the password 'help' and they should be able to give you access to all our files. As for me I don't think I need anything because I'm here with my friends!"
The spirit's spirits are uplifted and they all cheer and wave as you head off. Mimzy and Jomp match their waves and smile and wish them well as they return to the side of Brigadier Teshgari. She moves forward along with Darkrunner as he opens the doors to the next chamber.
The first thing the party sees upon opening the doors is a filthy mound of debris, fabric, and broken furniture dominates the center of this vast chamber, reaching halfway to the thirty-foot-high ceiling. The floor is littered with bones, refuse, and half-eaten corpses.
On top of the tall mound is a screeching stridermander. The eyes squint as they are faced with the lighting of the complex, but even still they remained focused on your group as they hold their spear ready for combat.
The east wall is decorated with framed photographs, mostly shattered, while the west is plastered with paper rotten by time and filth. The south wall bears a mural, its paint faded and crumbling.
Schuka also catches sight of a few other stridermanders in the room. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult to see as the two move slowly and ready their own weapons and are prepared to charge the party.
Darkrunner-42
Schuka
Brigadier Teshgari
Momo Strawberry
Osuro
Creatures
Skip Intro