The Vigilance has a crew complement of six the doctor robot answers, then goes on to confirm the crew members you are aware of ().
I am bound to medical secrecy. My rules are
- First, do no harm
- Second, do not share confidential patient information
The doctor confirm the last log entry as the date on which Lulora sent her message to Ixthia.
Very well. Please note that my logs are limited to medical matters. the robot responds, clearly programmed to do so in a posh accent. Most recent entry is for Pinjatar
The doctor proceeds to set out the bludgeoning and slashing injuries Pinjatar sustained in dry terms Pinjatar, human female. Previous medical history: minor ailments, pre-frontal contusion from not wearing a helmet while flying, minor case of Akitonian flu. Current ailment: severe acute blunt trauma, lesions in the torso, limbs and abdomen.
Treatment: unscheduled internal intervention which is medical-speak for emergency surgery. Outcome: full recovery expected, patient dismissed from medical facility.[/b] the robot summarizes, and there's even a slight hint of frustration in his voice, implying that the patient departed before fully recovering. In fact, the room is still in disarray, so whatever happened, must have happened in a hurry.
Wounds were caused by application of brute force the doctor states matter-of-factly. I did not apply treatments to any of the other crewmembers recently
The Nexus passage is lined with an array of doors on either side and at each end, illuminated by a pale green glow from the signs that hang above them. The distant hum of machinery is broken by the occasional drip of water from the pipes.
There are again signs on the doors, which indicate the doors lead to the interlink corridor (A3), washroom (A8), crew quarters (A9), escape pods (A10), captain’s quarters (A11), air lock (A12), and mess hall (A13). All the doors are unlocked.
Two sinks flank the entrance to this long, dark washroom. On one side of the room is a row of toilets, and opposite to them stands a row of shower booths. A chill runs through the air, making the booth doors sway and creak.
The sinks, toilets, and showers in this washroom are automated with sensors. Water trickles out gently when hands are placed under it, but currently the boiler system is still heating up, so the outflow is quite chilly.
In the last booth to the right, blood stains the walls.
It looks like somebody tried to wash off blood. Most likely the injury that caused it didn't happen here.
The crew quarters all look remarkably similar: the three rooms are nearly identical, each containing two bunk beds, a desk with a computer terminal and an office chair in front of the desk, a bedside table with drawers for personal items, and a closet for uniforms, tools, and other service equipment.
The bedside table has a collection of small figurines made from scrap metal. One of the drawers in the desk contains a notebook filled with sketches of various creatures and machines, as well as a half-finished schematic for a contraption that looks like a reconnaissance drone. The owner of the notebook is marked as 'Kelm' In the closet, there are a few spare uniforms sized for a halfling, and a collection of tools and spare parts.
The bedside table has a small glass jar filled with glowing plankton, which emits a soft blue light. A datapad next to it shows a map of the
Revelry’s layout. A poster on the wall shows a complex star, and a notepad on the desk is filled with calculations.
This looks to be the room of Pinjatar, the human pilot, and Aurinkar, the lashunta Solarian.
Pinjatar’s belongings are scattered throughout the room. Her red flight jacket hangs on one of the closet doors, and her flight helmet rests on her bed. A small picture of her family—a group of wealthy looking humans smiling as they gather in a nice park on Absalom Station—is tucked into the corner of a mirror on the desk. The backside of the picture contains a handwritten message filled with love and encouragement for Pinjatar’s work with the Starfinders. A framed certificate of achievement for her piloting skills is mounted on the wall opposite her bed.
The drawers in the table contain a lot of books about ancient civilizations, history of solar systems and the universe, and theories on the Gap. The closet holds a few medium-sized articles of clothing, which must be Aurinkar's.
There's a datapad in this room, with a locked folder.
Six ovoid metal pods sit evenly spaced on the floor in this dimly lit chamber, their semi-transparent lids covered in a thick layer of frost that blocks the view inside. It’s eerily silent, with the only sound the faint warble of a weakly flickering control panel on the wall.
Five pods have a yellow warning symbol blinking over them, while pod F displays a red warning symbol and the label “launch unsuccessful”.
On the dashboard, each “open” button is grayed out, showing the text “defrost in progress” and a timer counting down from four hours.
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Atu whispers some apologies to their AI assistant as they follow Blue throughout the ship. Xylt, it appears you may be quite busy today.
They cock their head askance at Nikko for a minute as the pahtra removes the pilot's effects, but when they explain their logic the spathinae is satisfied.
They linger a bit in the escape-pod room, staring at the pods.
'Defrost' Is this common for escape pods?
Xylt attempts to get access to the files on the datapad, but can't get past the password prompter.
Atu takes a moment to look at the escape pods. All of them are still there, though rime-covered.
This small airlock is dimly lit by four blue circles on the floor. Four spacesuit closets contain sleek black suits, visible through glass panels. The air is cool and sterile, and the low drone of the air conditioning system fills the room.
The closets contain six spacesuits, each with a name tag. Three of the suits are Small and bear the tags “Lulora”, “Rosm”, and “Kelm”. Aurinkar and Pinjatar’s suits are Medium, while the largest one belonged to Lipuvae.
The last room around the nexus boasts wood panel walls and a plush gray carpet. A large bed in the corner looks inviting, with fluffy pillows and warm blankets. An owl-shaped antique clock sits on a desk next to a computer terminal, ticking softly. Bookshelves line the walls, with the free space left open decorated by a painting of a ysoki family.
This spacious room features faux wood panels and soft lighting. On one side of the room stands a kitchen counter with a sink, a stove with blue lights, and a sleek food synthesizer. The cupboards are slightly ajar, revealing a few scattered utensils and supplies. On the other side of the room, dark blue booth seating that curves around a large, rectangular table, surrounding it on three sides.
The replicator has returned to function after the power was restored, and still shows thah last meal that was prepared: Seafood Casserole. The remains of the half-eaten casserole has been left on the table, now moldy and covered in dust.
There are several movie and band posters on the walls. The largest of these is a picture of an Abysshead album cover, the aggrosynth band from Apostae. One of the band members has a heart drawn over his left cheek in what looks like plum-colored lipstick.
A notebook on the table is opened to a page with a to-do list. Its items read
[X] Gear up
[_] Message to mom
[X] Return L’s key
with the first and last items crossed off as completed. Other pages are mostly filled with poetry and doodles of elves, astrazoans, and other creatures.
A wide window on the wall looks out onto the vast emptiness of space.
Millions of stars in the infinity of space, simple white lights that will eventually blink out.
Through the night wide awake
Make a wish on every star
Trying find to find out which one you're on
Every dying sun, flashing one by one
Until every single one of them is gone
And with
Every single flash coming from afar
I repeat my prayer for every star
Show a sign my wish can come true
Show me that the last one is you
--Poetry journal found on board the Vigilance
The doors that lead forward are locked. There's a keycard reader and a panel.
Deep Blue has a look around. The ysoki in the picture frame looks eerily similar to Lulora Remis. Suddenly, the picture's eyes seem to move, staring straight at the Stellifera. Ruuun they hear as a faint whisper.
Nikko picks up the antique clock, and sees that the computer next to it has a keycard slot.
Deep Blue finds Lulora's keycard in a drawer. The keycard is enough to unlock the computer.
On the computer, there are video logs in a folder 'Revelry'.
We have closed in on the location of the signal, and found a massive ship. It's Revelry. The whole ship seems to be surrounded by a shroud of sorts. Initial scans showed up empty, probably because we're blocked by some barrier.
The next video message is from a day later
What secrets does this ship hold? Our scanners can't seem to penetrate the barrier, and we can't even approach. We have made absolutely zero progress over the last 24 hours. Still, we can't give up now, not now we're so close to uncovering what secrets this ship holds. We must persist!
The third day
There must be some mystic connection here. I have started to devise a ritual that might be able to penetrate the barrier. The crew have been restless, with Aurinkar reporting having strange dreams. I must admit, sleeping has been hard here for myself as well.
The fourth day
The ritual failed, but gave us some answers at least. I suspect the shroud surrounding the ship is connected to the Drift, as if the ship never truly exited it. If that is true, magic alone is not enough to reach the ship, we need something more. I have made preparations to hook up the Vigilance's Drift engine with the ritual. It's risky, and might destroy our own engine. The crew hasn't been informed, they are restless enough as they are.
The fourth day, six hours later
Success! We have managed to establish a conduit. The crew is gearing up for exploration. Dreams have gotten worse, more intense, so the crew is very anxious to explore the Revelry. Alas, I have to stay behind: the drift engine has been slowed down by the magical ritual, and something is draining the Power core. The halflings have been informed, but couldn't figure it out either.
Day five contains the a video message that was also sent to Ixthia:
My crew just returned from the Revelry. While exploring the ship, they were attacked by seemingly endless waves of hideous creatures. They managed to escape with their lives, barely, but I fear they must return to the Revelry as soon as we’ve managed to patch them up. It’s far worse than I imagined. There’s something much more dangerous than those creatures out there. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not friendly. It’s consuming us, and my ship. The only way to save ourselves is to destroy it.
There are no further messages in the folder.
Battle stations!
A soft red glow emanates from two consoles and displays located at each end of the room, illuminating this small and narrow space. The guns are on stand-by, fully operational and calibrated now that the power has been restored. A scanning console shows the Thunderbolt on the lidar, and there's a station console that shows the message 'Enter password'
The gunnery log shows the ship has been in multiple battles - the log goes as far back as the Jinsul - but it doesn't seem to have recently been in any fights. The only shot that was fired was three days before Lulora’s last transmission, a single shot from the ship’s plasma cannon.
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Try 'Vigilance' Atu whispers to their AI, who ignores them to actually bypass the lock.
Those 'creatures' discussed must have been limited to personal threats. Atu surmises as they read out the cracked logs to the others. The Vigilance's cannons have not loosed any shots lately - beyond one, possibly a warning shot or to test the 'shroud'. If there was a pitched starship battle there would be more signs.
As Deep Blue shares what he has learned, the spathinae pauses as the colony thinks. A mystical connection, but to the Drift? Triune is the only deity that lives there that I am aware of, but they have been silent for so long. What facet of them could cause something like this...
The bridge features seats for the officers, as well as numerous screens displaying data about the ship. In front of a control panel, a female ysoki attempts to scan her pawprint, but the screens shows “read error.” She groans and slams her fists against the control panel, to no avail. The ysoki turns around, revealing an angry, strangely translucent appearance while floating a foot off the ground.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demands in a voice that sounds hollow and otherworldly. “My crew and my ship are in danger! You better have a good reason for invading my bridge!”
The various screens show diagnostics on power and systems functioning, confirming that core power has dramatically increased over the past hour, all systems being online, as well as the status of the escape pods showing a single malfunction.
Lulora is, of course, a ghost, which would explain why the pawprint reader doesn't work
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Immediately recognising that Lulora has become a ghost, Deep Blue telepathically informs his party of this.
Doing his best to draw himself up into a salute, Deep Blue politely addresses her.
Greetings, Ma'am. We were sent here on behalf of Ixthia the Unbreakable. They were concerned by your last transmission, and the extended period of silence thereafter.
I understand that what has happened has been... rather stressful. Maybe if you took a moment to calm down, and coherently explain precisely what the problems you have encountered are, we can do our best to assist your crew and your ship.
The ghost seems very upset, and tersely asks “What’s your mission?” and then immediately follows up with You’ve rummaged through my ship, huh? Can you tell me, what shape my ship is in?
Lurlora seems to react well to Khubelu's matter-of-fact answer, but follows up by repeating her first question, and adding another So what is your mission here? And what about the threat? Do you have any idea what you’re up against?
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<We are here to find out what happened to the Revelry and Vigilance and render whatever aid we can to their crew and passengers. Our research into the threat is ongoing, and any information you can provide would be greatly helpful. We are aware of both unusual dreams and swarms of creatures, as well as a ritual involving both magic and Drift technology.>
That's all very well, but my crew are experienced Exo-Guardians. What makes you think you’ll fare better than them? Luloru asks, and adds One last thing. My ship no longer obeys my commands. It’s as though I wasn’t here. What’s going on? Is this another anomaly related to the Drift?
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Life is full of ups and downs, a journey that challenges even the strongest of souls. When considering the trials and tribulations that they face, some prefer to take comfort in gods, whilst others prefer the society of close friends and comrades.
I can tell, without a shred of doubt, that this ship and its crew are truly important to you. More important than anything else in the universe. Having that sort of certainty in one's life is a truly blessed thing - not just *anyone* can experience it.
Unfortunately - and there is no easy way to say this - the reason that I know this to be fact, is also the reason that the ship is no longer obeying your commands.
You appear to have died, but your connection to the ship and its crew is so strong, that you came back as a ghost. If you would like to talk about it, I am a good listener. I want to help you and your crew achieve catharsis, and return whomever I can, home.
Deep Blue's revelation, however careful, seems to hit the Ysoki ghost hard. Lulora’s ferocious expression softens and she drifts to the ground, looking weary and more transparent than before. Examining herself, she says: “I’m fading. I no longer feel anger, only fear. Quick, I must tell you everything before it’s too late.”
“As you know, we received a distress call and found the Revelry. We soon realized the ship had not fully returned from the Drift. But I was able to create a hybrid ritual that allowed us to enter the ship. You see that hatch there? The docking umbilical is still connected, and that’s the only way to access the ship.
“As I continued studying the strange aura around the Revelry, I realized something had taken control of my ship, draining it of its energy and slowly consuming it. I don’t know what this entity is, but it isn’t friendly. I can feel its hunger, and once it’s done with my ship, I fear it won’t stop there.
“I sent my crew to investigate the Revelry, but the ship had transformed into a living nightmare. They were beaten back by a horde of mutated creatures relentlessly attacking them at every turn. However, they did discover something important: a series of haunted locations and gravitational anomalies, all connected like a path. I firmly believe this trail of wrongness leads to the source of the unknown threat. Knowing that we and our ship were in grave danger, I sent them to the Revelry to end the threat. But they never returned, and I can only assume they perished.”
Lulora’s form keeps fading, her voice a mere whisper now. “I need you to finish what my crew and I started. Follow the trail of anomalies, discover where my crew was headed, and find a way to destroy the threat,” she says as she starts fading from view.
When she is already completely invisible, all that remains is a faint wispy voice that whispers “Hurry.”, then returns to silence.
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Deep Blue listens attentively, staying calm and maintaining good eye contact as Lulora tells her story.
When she fades away, he offers her a salute.
Goodbye. You have my word that we will do our utmost to finish the work that you and your crew started.
He then heads for the hatch, not wanting to wait for the party's ship to start to be consumed, as well.
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Deep Blue! Hold, just for a moment. Atu cautions. We should send a quick message back to Absalom Station, with the truths Lulora gave her life to uncover. That way if we too fall, the next team to come and purge the threat will be better prepared.
The spathniae then turns to the last place the ysoki's spirit floated. Compressing down, you can hear them offering a short prayer. Great Queen, this soul has passed on. As she chose to protect her companions in life, guide her spark to them and her commune in death, as it harms none.
Atu suggests sending a message, but then realizes than communications have been almost impossible near the strange bubble surrounding the Revelry. It would have to be a long retreat before being far away enough to send a message unhampered, which would mean losing precious time.
Inside the boarding umbilical, the slick metal surface shimmers with an otherworldly energy. An unseen wind howls in the tunnel, whipping everything in its path, and the tunnel seems to stretch longer and longer. The walls twist and warp, as if alive and pulsing with energy. Vibrant colors dance to their own rhythm, creating a kaleidoscope of shapes and patterns that melt and stretch. The air hums with strange, haunting music, like a mournful ghostly choir. The wind howls louder, crackling with energy, and then suddenly all is quiet. As the end of the tunnel draws near, the spiraling sensation and magnificent colors fade away, leaving only the cold, segmented metal.
At the very end of the umbilical, the Revelry’s entrance gate beckons, and leads to a long, non-functioning escalator. It is here that the true immensity of the ship becomes apparent: the pompous escalator leads into a gaping black area of nothingness, without any lights to guide. The ceilings are at least 30 feet high, making the enormity of the cruise liner extra overbearing.
A large fountain stands in the center of the Revelry’s welcome area. Its water is murky and still, the tiles around it are cracked and stained, and a statue in the center is covered in a thick layer of grime. There are a few planter boxes in this lobby, but the plants are withered and brown. Welcoming banners that once proudly displayed the ship’s name are torn and tattered, and the gift shop lies empty and abandoned. Suddenly, a cold breeze makes the dry leaves rustle, carrying ghostly echoes of laughter and excitement into the lobby. An upbeat melody starts playing from speakers on the walls, but the notes are off-key and the rhythm erratic.
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Welcome to the Revelry, the pinnacle of luxury! You'll be treated like royalty on board our luxury starliner. Your experience starts at our lush welcoming area, where our friendly crew will present you with your welcoming gift and our signature sparkling welcome drink! You'll then receive directions to your quarters and...
--- AbdadarCorp Travel Virtual Brochure for the Revelry
Bodo gets a vision of a luscious lobby, with lines of waiters offering him drinks of all colours and taste. It's so hospitable! Such luxury! He feels strangely compelled to move towards that colorful fountain up ahead.
Bodo is moving in, compelled by the lingering attraction of the place, but Khubelu, Nikko and Atu manage to resist the otherworldy pull of the fountain. As they look around the once grand, but now dark, welcoming hall of the Revelry, they hear a rustling of steps, a sort of low growling, menacing snarl, and near-hundreds of eyes glistening in the darkness.
Double doors on all side bust open, revealing hordes of undead, pouring into the welcoming area.
---(Round 1)---
Deep Blue (need will save)
Khubelu
Nikko
Atu
Bodo (standard only)
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Undead Troop
Undead Troop
Undead Troop
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