The stridermander is able to keep up with Darkrunner's movements as it pushes forward at him, but even with that speed it Darkrunner's laser is able to just connect and cut into the beast. Momo's blad follows right behind as it deals a devastating hit to the creature that screeches in fury in response to the damage.
Taking a shot at the stridermander at the center of the room, Schuka scores a clean hit and staggers the monster slowing its movement.
The team's attack is interrupted though as there is a heavy slam behind Darkrunner. Dropping from the from right above the double door a massive stridermander's skin quickly drops the camouflage as positions itself before the door. This one has pieces of vesk brigandine armor stretched over its body, still having bits of blood stains from the previous owner. Rather than holding an simple spear tipped with sharpened stone, this behemoth is holding onto a tactical doshko, wielding the large weapon in one hand as another grips a pistol.
Without hesitation the tendril on the creature's chest lunges out and snaps at Osuro as it bares sharp teeth that tear into armor. It attempts to grab hold and pull Osuro in, but it just barely fails as it stuggles against the bright lighting.
Darkrunner-42
Schuka
Momo Strawberry
Stridermander Alpha [Yellow] (dazzled)
Brigadier Teshgari
Osuro (10 damage)
Stridermanders
. Red (21 damage, dazzled)
. Blue (4 damage, -Speed, dazzled)
. Green (dazzled)
Skip Intro
Deeper into the room though, several of the small bones throughout the room begin to shift of their own accord and begin taking on bright, colorful auras.
Brigadier Teshgari was just about to push into room and quickly shifts her plans as she looks at the giant stridermander. After an appraisal she sticks with her pistol and fires it into the beast as she gestures for her aides to keep back.
She fires a shot into the creature dealing a minor wound.
Osuro holds position as she attempts to misdirect the stridermander. She is successful, but it lunges right as she fires the shot causing it to miss.
Among the average-sized stridermanders, one still tinted red from the fading paints surrounding it as well as the fresh wounds dealt to it roars and striks out by trying to bite Momo several times.
Neither have any luck landing a hit.
However the stridermander that was standing atop the pile rushes downward and digs into Momo with its fangs!
The last of the strider rushes past Osuro out of the room and attempts to rip apart Skip. The teeth bite into the armor, but get less force into the blow than the one that hit Momo.
Skip Intro (8 damage)
Darkrunner-42
Schuka
Momo Strawberry (13 damage)
Stridermander Alpha [Yellow] (8 damage, dazzled)
Brigadier Teshgari
Osuro (10 damage) (AoO vs Green)
Stridermanders
. Red (21 damage, dazzled)
. Blue (4 damage, dazzled)
. Green (dazzled)
Skip Intro
A thrum of power fills the room and a song begins to echo through the halls. The auras around the various bones in the room brighten and glow stronger. They begin to float about the room and flies around and launch themselves at the stridermanders. The bones bonk them on the head, slam into the their limbs knocking them about and hampering them in every manner possible.
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Momo carelessly swings her blade around in defense of Darkrunner.
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Close Combat: When you are attacking a foe in melee, you know how to maneuver to make it more difficult for other foes to target you.
When you hit an adjacent foe with a melee attack, as long as you are adjacent to that target, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your AC against attacks from other creatures that are not adjacent to you until the beginning of your next turn.
Darkrunner puts some distance, but the large stridermander snaps at him as he falls back. It gets a grip and strikes Darkrunner, but the damage is lessened by a flying bone smacking the creature in the head.
Once Darkrunner is away, the noise of skittermander voices distracts it enough to land a devastating shot.
The cuts from Momo nearly bring down the crimson stridermander, it barely avoids being felled as it is just able avoid the second swing of the blade.
* * *
Facing off against in melee with the rest of the group, one of the stridermanders snaps at Schuka as they fire their weapon, both trading damage in the exchange.
Skip Intro (8 damage)
Darkrunner-42 (13 damage)
Schuka (11 damage)
Momo Strawberry (13 damage)
Stridermander Alpha [Yellow] (28 damage, dazzled, flat-footed)
Brigadier Teshgari
Osuro (10 damage) (AoO vs Green)
Stridermanders
. Red (33 damage, dazzled)
. Blue (4 damage, dazzled)
. Green (7 damage, dazzled, flat-footed)
Skip Intro
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Skip recoils from the bite. His mind whirls and he is confused for a moment, as if waking from (or entering) a dream. How did I get here, have we always been down here? Yes, right, Momo... The brigadier... I remember....
He raises his pistol and focuses his energy on it for a moment, and it seems to crackle with energy. He takes a step back from the attacking creature to defend himself from its attacks.
Free of the danger from the closest stridermander, he continues moving along behind the rest of the group to see.into the larger room. Spying the large creature through the double doors, he recalls and old familiar odour he often smells around his enemies. As he does so the air appears to haze over with an acidic mist.
The tall stridermander is able to leverage the stolen plating and protect itself against some of the damage, but the smaller kin takes the full brunt of the acidic mist.
Brigadier Teshgari has quickly found herself at the forefont and she drops her pistol to the ground in favor of her piercing doshakari. Jomp is quick to grab the discarded weapon as she drives the weapon into the emerald stridermander.
The massive stridermander hisses as it is burned by the acidic mist. It holds focus on its prey and closes in on Darkrunner.
Hungry, the feeding tendril reaches from between bits of the armor platting and snaps at Darkrunner, winding around his arm and snapping at him as it attempts to pull him in. It does do damage, but Darkrunner's speed and a series of colorful bones to the alpha's head stop it from taking hold.
Confused by the multitude of bones flying at it as well as the caustic mist melting it away, the blue stridermander screeches and just snaps at Momo, landing only one blow in a frantic scramble.
The red stridermander, heavily wounded, backs away from the combat and instead leaves its tendril to wind and attack at Darkrunner. Between the mounting wounds, Darkrunner's defenses, and the skittermander aid, the blow isn't able to land.
Skip Intro
Osuro (10 damage)
Darkrunner-42 (21 damage)
Schuka (11 damage)
Momo Strawberry (21 damage)
Stridermander Alpha [Yellow] (32 damage, dazzled, flat-footed)
Brigadier Teshgari
Stridermanders
. Red (33 damage, dazzled)
. Blue (12 damage, dazzled)
. Green (18 damage, dazzled, flat-footed)
The spirits presence wanes and the bones slowly settle in the room as the battle continues.
Because of both the skittermander's bones tangling around the alpha's feet and Darkrunner's previous shot leaving it flat-footed, Momo's attack of opportunity is just able to connect and cut into the horror.
It focuses in on Darkrunner though as he keeps on firing in close quarters.
After so many attacks the tendril is able to grip hold of Darkrunner and hold him firmly in place as it tries to devour the Starfinder. His shot barely misses as it has just regained footing from the series of shots and spirits before.
That is ended quickly as Momo moves and radiates solar power that dispatches both the alpha and the crimson stridermander, both having suffered several significant wounds.
The other two take notice and begin chittering with concern and panic.
"Good work. Keep going. Do not let victory give way to carelessness." Brigadier Teshgari continues to press the attack before they can try to regain any combat advantage as she strikes out with her unwieldy weapon.
It is another strong blow that pierces into the stridermander hide and it rears back in rage.
Skip Intro
Osuro (10 damage)
Darkrunner-42 (31 damage)
Schuka (11 damage)
Momo Strawberry (21 damage)
Stridermander Alpha [Yellow] (58 damage, dazzled, flat-footed)
Brigadier Teshgari
Stridermanders
. Red (51 damage, dazzled)
. Blue (21 damage, dazzled)
. Green (29 damage, dazzled)
Osuro makes attempt to bring this combat to a finale, but the stridermander does strike back fiercly as it tries seeks cut through the team.
The attack just misses by millimeters as a sudden reflection from the lighting blinds the stridermander causing the attack to miss.
Osuro's pinpoint attack on the other hand connects and fells the stridermander.
Injured and outnumbered, the final stridermander withdraws, bolting out of the room past team, barreling through Osuro, Brigadier Teshgari, and Shuka. Mimzy and Jomp scatter as the stridermander stomps through.
Skip Intro
Osuro (10 damage)
Darkrunner-42 (31 damage)
Schuka (11 damage)
Momo Strawberry (21 damage)
Brigadier Teshgari
Stridermanders
. Blue (25 damage, dazzled)
. Green (53 damage, dazzled)
The Brigadier calls for her pistol which Jomp quickly provides. She joins her fire with Skip bringing and end to the fight. She follows up and checks the bodies before returning to a defensive posture once more.
The keening cry of the alpha linger on the air and there is a scuffle as various young skitter out into of the base into the Gadraveech. After a few moments the constant scraping throughout the vents is gone and there is only a dull hum of ancient lighting and fans.
Mimzy calls out through the halls toward to the gardens, "thank you for the help!"
Searching the room there, one wall has a number of photographs with all of the Allsixer's posting triumphantly at various locations. Another wall holds scraps of paper, but they are too badly degraded to read anything but the barest hint of missions long past.
The final wall has a faded mural depicting skittermanders and Veskarium living together in piece, holding hands and hugging.
You find another cache of weapons in here, the markings indicate they were from hunters and have been gathered over years. There are various weapons fitting all categories among the collection. Most of which have consumed most of their charges or ammunition.
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As the last stridemander is downed, the yellow glow fades, leaving only a frazzled looking Momo with tossled up hair holding a sword.
Insects.. she says, though technically stridermanders are not... well let's not go there, ...not my favourite.
She's note quite keen to clamber over the big monster, downed as it may be. Instead she checks the room for any further creatures.
Hey, there's some pictures on the wall here. Look at them!
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Schuka is obviously disapointed by her electric pistol. Although she quicky calms down seeing mural of vesks and skittermanders.
She shows Momo and Skip what she saw - bullet and laser trace. And also the cache!!
And surely the stelifera approach alfa strittermanders body as she is curious about anatomy...
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Skip is shocked for a moment as his final shot actually connects with the fleeing creature and the Brigadier brings it down. Oh... My.... Well that didn't feel very sporting....
He shakes it off and moves to inspect the large stridermander. Trying to keep his enthusiasm up on front of the Vesk he asks "Well, Brigadier, Surely this one is a worthy trophy!"
When Schuka points out the ancient battle damage, Skip looks over it a little sadly. His initial wonderment at this hidden facility makes his feel a little guilty after the solemn story of the Allsix Assist unfolded before then.
Brigadier Teshgari gives a nod as she scans the room and focuses on the large stridermander body. She confirms Skip's appraisal with a gruff, "certainly worthy."
"I'll give you time to rest, we must leave soon. Returning with this will be a slow process and there are more dangers within Gadraveech that should not still find comfort here." She begins pulling out some equipment to help the return process to drag the body back.
Jomp helps with the management of the new set of gear as he goes through to clean each of the weapons and make them battle ready.
With her bag in hand, Mimzy produces another set of pies and drinks and provides it to everyone. "Eat up! This was a very exciting day but we need to make sure we have our energy up for the hike back!"
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Momo is eager to take a rest after the rather exhausting battle. (). She'll take a moment to visit the gardens and thank the spirit. Thank you all for your help, we couldn't have done it without you... she speaks softly, and add just don't linger to long here. Your fate was dreadful and traumatic, and I understand that you feel you have unfinished business. You deserve a rest after that heroic assistance, though. The afterlife needs you... Goodbye, nufriends!
With that she takes her leave.
Sprout smiles as they respond to the thanks, "well, we just saw we could pitch in!"
"And I think we all had a bone to pick with those stridermanders," adds Tipps to the smiles and laughter of the Allsixers.
"We are just happy to help," is the response from Razzlefrazz who is straightening their spectral beard.
As to the soft comment the set of them start to look confused. Bixby comments on it as they fold their pairs of arms in concentration, "I must admit it was certainly unpleasant and they were incredibly rude coming in firing."
Razzlefrazz sadly comments, "well the one I met asked me to surrender, but in my excitement to help out I set off the explosives." They clearly are apologetic. The others reciprocate that apologetic tone and support with spirt hugs.
"Even then though," moving past the sadness, Prismacora voice breaks into more cheer. "We spent so long apart and I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to be with my friends again!"
The others nod in agreement with Viverivim saying, "it just wonderful to be together and there is so much joy to be found between us. Songs to be sung, stories to be told."
Sprout adds with a delighted glee, "and I get to see new plants growing in my gardens again!"
Bixby looks at the others with a smile and thinks a moment. "With all that we have here the afterlife seems just sort of..." He trails off as he negotiates the words in his head. The others roll their heads about in thought and consideration as they seem to worry about being rude. Eventually they settle on, "just it seems a bit boring to pass on."
The others nod with agreement.
The undead vesk, Adrovor is fairly light, at least compared to the load of cutlery Mimzy is dragging around and especially to the stridermander's body. Adrovor indicates a strong desire to stay out of the garden as he watches the skittermander spirits fly about.
For their part the stridermander spirits do see the undead vesk and fly to the door. The give some thoughtful looks toward the ancient soldiers before Razzlefrazz declares that was the vesk he accidentally blew up. All of them issue their apologies. Razzlefrazz himself does give a honest apology his voice lower and gruffer than the others, "I'm so sorry, I was taken so off guard and I was so looking forward to helping you out. Lost all sense of myself. From the stories you are so much nicer than the others!"
Adrovor keeps his head low and gives a grave response, "it was wrong and in my mind. Thoughts that were rising in my thoughts as we came here and echoed since my death. I should have joined the military. I was only able convince myself to ignore myself of these unbecoming thoughts. I knew this attack on your base as a mistake as well, but only one I was able to admit out loud with my death and the years of isolation."
Bixby sounds off as they try to cheer up the broken undead. "Well I'm certainly a bit peeved at your fellow soldiers how they treated us, but I think you did your best." The other skittermanders second through sixth this sentiment as they try to cheer up the vesk, but the bountiful sweetness is a strong taste that doesn't fix Adrovor's sour mood and seems to drive him deeper into despair and shame. Sprout is happy to offer, "if you want you can stay with us. We can sing, share stories, and watch the flowers bloom! We might just be spirits, but we will put all our effort to make you feel good again!"
Adrovor faces this suggesting fear and terror. His body shakes as the idea goes though his mind. His dead voice is especially unsteady as he please, both to you all and the skittermanders. "Please no. I don't want to be trapped in here. Every moment I look at any of the... skittermanders I feel pain and suffering echoing from my phantom limbs into my chest. The same when I try to look toward the Brigadier. I don't want to be here. I can't be here." He closes his eyes as he tries to ease himself.
All of the skittermanders are at odd with this as their efforts to help are stymied. The group of spirits offers, "well we do want you to feel better. We wish we could help you more, but keep on doing your best. We don't want this to keep you down like it did so many of us these years! These people from the Pact Worlds helped us, so I'm sure they can help you too!"
Darkrunner exhales visibly when the Brigadier confirms the worthiness of their kill.
I wonder where these stridermanders had come from when they move in.
He asks the vesk Do you think it's possible more could move in later?
"Recent quakes in the area might have opened the way for them to move in." Brigadier Teshgari scans the air as she secures the trophy. "The scent will keep others away for a time. Best to seal the entrance and render this place back to history. This place has been forgotten and past."
She looks at the group as she emphasizes this, "same for what you have found here. I ask that you leave it buried in Gadraveech rather than dredge it up."
With The stridermanders slain and the spirits settled the team is able begin heading back toward Ewadravona. The corpse of the stridermander is a far heavier load, but you don't face any horrors within the caverns as you return. Brigadier Teshgari gives you more respect than when you headed down.
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Schuka is not person to decide fates and she prefers to remain neutral. Although this is another case. Actually, 2 cases.
As for the un-dead vesk Shuka wants to take him out of this place and bring to Starfinder Society to think around. Maybe he will go to his finall judgement or find another un-life among other undead in the Pact World which is possible.
As for brigadier request to remain silent - huh, Schuka can remain silent for sure. But stelifera's kin has a history with Azlanti Empire similar with vesks and skittermanders. Skittermander planet is occupied dispite Mimzy is positive towards Teshgari for example.
So Schuka can promise nothing here. And one of the reasons - she got much more sympathies towards skittermaders after this hunt expedission.
The stelifera shares her thoughts with other Starfinders.
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Momo sees no dilemma here: Adrovor made it pretty clear he wants to continue living, and away from the Skittermander cave. Let's take him along.
If his will to live is strong enough to cheat death, he deserves another chance... she says, before adding ...until the men in top hats find him.
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Some Akitonian communities believe in the guides to the underworld, who walk the earth disguised as distinguished gentlemen in old-fashioned clothing: long clothes and top hats. They are the administrators of the underworld, and make sure every deceased soul find its way from this world to the next. The tradition also says that every now and then, a soul escapes the guides, and manages to live on, until the guide recognises his mistake and rectifies it.
-- Akitonian Lore, a guide
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Yes Schuka, I can see you feel that way. I'm hesitant to go against the Brigadier - we don't want to create an international incident - but we are also expected to report... Momo confides to the Stellifera.
Momo is hesitant towars Teshgari. She is smart and well-mannered enough to be respectful to the brigadier, but that doesn't mean she has to like the vesk. She settles on 'discretion', and with tact answers We'll keep the information classified.
Adrovor is clearly settled by the assurances and, in comparison to the stridermander, is trivial to return with.
He avoids looking toward the brigadier for the journey and she doesn't offer him a thought. She does seem to have a bit more respect for the party to show some determination. Although to Momo's assurances she gives a vague nod. She cares little for the assurances you make now.
"May you face the future with strength," she offers as you arrive at the exit of the underground caverns. Mimzy and Jomp give enthusiastic waves to you all. Mimzy struggles with the cookware to give you all another round of foodstuffs to empty out her bags. Adrovor looks away and shivers at cheerful skittermanders and sneering vesk guards alike.
Once off planet and onto the Brass Cluth, Radaszam congratulates you all for your work. "You lot made one hell of an impression. Good job keeping it together. Brigadier Teshgari was terse, as expected, on the details but I can at least see you have come up with one more body than you left with." He gives a supportive snarl as the looks over you all and Adrovar. "Alright, report to me on the mission."
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To Momo 'We'll keep the information classified' means she's not going to make a fuss on any Vesk world, but has no reservations at all discussing it with any other Starfinder.
Back at the station, Momo returns to the AbadarCorp trainee dorm, and ends up phoning in a dance performance for Kawyrd's new song 'Lost in Space'
Have you seen that girl
With the strange look on her face?
She's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Lost in space
She's in another world
Yeah she's off in a distant place
She's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Yeah she's lost in space
Yeah she's lost in space
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Schuka steps and sends short report to all the fellows and Radaszam during Momos sings and moves. As there is time to entertain and time to think.
- Brigadier Teshgari is a stragiht person with principles. She was helped by 2 skittermanders over mission way - Mumzy and Jomp. Skittermanders are very nice, but this is reasonable in the cicrumstances of occupation. During our hunt trying to find a dangerous stritermander we found and searched old facility - from time when skittermanders where free.
You will find short description of foundings bellow.
Facility represented few examples of afterlife options, including optimistic and enthusiastic skittermanders, and also a dull part of undead vesk who attacked the facility decades ago.
Strittermander was hunted down with all local nest.
Brigadier Teshgari asked us to classify information about facility and it story respectfully - which I am against (if voiceless stellifera may note).
Radaszam face turns into a focused grimaces as you relate the details of the mission. "Well you accomplished the first directive to make a good impression on them. Still this sent you into a bigger mess than I could She likely already knows you are not going to keep quiet about this. As most she might have hoped but she probably isn't going to change that as this information spreads through the Society."
"Still this information is likely to gain us more enemies than friends among the Veskarium. Still knowing us to be honest might gain as some otherwise reluctant help." He huffs as he congratulates you, "stand by you decision and be ready to defend it. Starfinder work is messy at times and you can't avoid that. Good work."