Ears aims for the yellow beast, only to see it beaten into a pulp by Bodie. This allow Ears and Aluradux to retarget for Blue, which takes two devastating hits.
The last two monsters decide they've had enough, and flee into the desert wasteland.
“We live! Praise Mother Touloo!” Dystance says, and the hunters hold up their rifles. The hunting party hauls the carcasses of the hunt back, thrumming with their chests in a sound halfway between drums and laughter. As the hunters return, children run out of the husk colony of Shelter, and then so do the adults, clicking their mandibles and cheering.
The children of Shelter run out, and two more distinguished Husks, Brother Koseemo and Sister Alomir, approach the group Thank you for help brother Koseemo says, before emitting a strange gurgling sound that must be a religious chant of some sort. Let me tend to your wounds Sister Alomir says, carefully tending to any cuts and bruises you might have.
Auntie Falgo is also here, and her chef skills are in full swing. Not long after, she is ready to offer the group a morsel of the meat of the latest catch.
The tiny morsels turn into a feast, with larger portions shared among everyone in attendance. After eating, Dystane speaks:
“My friends new and old, we husks have always celebrated the small wins after our successful hunts. If we survived, if we brought back meat or gathered fruit for our camp to eat, and our children slept that night with full bellies. We have always shared what we have, and then danced in joy and welcoming that we survived another night. Come, dance!”
As a band brings out drums and stone instruments, the other celebrants form up in two straight lines and begin a formal dance.
Yuluzak seems very comfortable dancing among the Ghibrani - he seems to be something of a local hero here.
Aluradux, Bodie and Jekcedo look a little like a children's dance might already be challenging for them, but fortunately Elwin and Ainsley have the moves. The Husks, and by extension Yuluzak, look very impressed, and the ceremony progresses with an air of friendship and celebration.
After the ceremony is over, the group treks back to the city, leaving the group a few moment to watch over the parade grounds. The peace is temporary though, and soon enough something else happens.
“It’s a miracle! A miracle!” The normally stoic Dystane comes running up to the group with a husk hunting party in tow. “A nearly radiation-free oasis, some ten miles in diameter, has arisen in what was previously wasteland!”
Dystane gestures at the neat and manicured fairgrounds, and says, “It’s not like this manufactured park, but true wilderness, teeming with birds and flowers and fruit you can eat!”
Other husks chime in, “We have heard the voice of Mother Touloo! She spoke to us and told us change is coming to Elytrio!” With an excited click of her mandibles, Dystane adds, “See? Mother Touloo blesses our efforts! She, too, wishes for unity! Come, you must all join me in visiting the site of this miracle!”
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"I would love to see this miracle, how long will it take to get there? Was this miracle part of a prophecy or was this unexpected?
During the trip, Jek uses their com unit to look up dance videos to see what went wrong. Thinking to themself Jek thinks.
"Looks like I have all the steps right, just not moving right."
Jek keeps looking curiously back and forth at Elwin, Ainsley, and Dystane's arm and leg joints.
"I don't get it my insectile joints look similar to Dystane's, how are Elwin, and Ainsley, moving so well when I can't? I don't think Elwin, and Ainsley, can even bend that way. I'll get this dance right if it takes me all week."
Jek can be seen bending and stretching their arms and legs one at a time testing their range of motion.
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Guided by memories from his earlier visit. Ears dances adequately, although he doesn't relish it. He thinks it is just good diplomacy.
"A natural spontaneously occuring oasis seems highly unlikely. I would gladly examine this oasis." Ears voice and phrasing takes on a different, more measured timbre and tempo, but the ysoki is practically dancing by hopping from one hind foot to the other.
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"A natural spontaneously occurring oasis seems highly unlikely. I would gladly examine this oasis." Ears voice and phrasing takes on a different, more measured timbre and tempo, but the ysoki is practically dancing by hopping from one hind foot to the other.
"Unlikely, yes. Hardly impossible however. Magic does exist after all. I'm super excited to check it out!"
On the trip she consults her computer to see what she can find out about Mother Touloo.
With Klarima, Dystane, Yuluzak and a group of Elytrio athletes in tow, the group sets out to the coordinates provided. It's strange - the coordinates point to a spot that according to surface scans was completely barren prior to the group's landing.
Nevertheless, after a two-hour hike, the reports of a lush oasis seem very real indeed. The oasis rises out of the desert like an island marooned in a sea of burnt red sand. The air within the oasis is sweet and moist, carrying the scent of plants from dozens of different worlds. There are flowering shrubs and fruit filled trees, cool shade and heavy undergrowth. From tiny little frogs to whirring insects to songbirds, this unlikely green space teems with abundant small wildlife.
At the center of the oasis, a small tree stands, a slender sapling with purple leaves.
Just like the ghibrani, you become fascinated with the sight of the tree
At the sight of the tree, Dystane and Klarima are overcome with reverence, prostrating themselves. Dystane prays, while Klarima exclaims, “It is a miracle!” When Dystane recovers, she asks, “Mother Touloo, what do you wish of us?” In response, the tree speaks into the minds of the everyone present in the voice of a gentle child, replying “Oh, more biological samples, please.”
With that, the ghibranis hurry of, off to do the bidding of 'mother Touloo', leaving the group by themselves.
The tree speaks telepathically “Oh, hello. You’re different. Are you from this planet?”
Aluradux knows that Mother Touloo is mostly a figment of the imagination of the membrane ghibranis - a group of ghibranis was tricked to depart the city of Arkeost and make their lives in the wasteland, under the blessing of 'Mother Touloo'.
Though Aluradux is currently convinced there is more to the story...
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" I'm just visiting. What you've done here is very impressive. Are you from this planet? Do you mind if I have a closer look at your creation?"
Dice= Life Science, is the oasis real and Elytrio born, or alien?]1d20+13[/dice]
Ears begins moving around the tree, keeping a respectful distance while he examines the flora and fauna.
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Jek cast Comprehend Customs when we arrived at the site last an hour
Jek looks at the tree momentarily then asks the team.
"Can everyone else hear the tree talking?"
Ears quite quickly recognises the tree for what it is: an immature oracle or Oras, a sacred tree dedicated to the protection, repair, and evolution of ecosystems. The oracles serve as the deity Oras’ temples and biological labs.
You are vistors the tree responds, and adds with impeccable logic I am an oracle of Oras. The people here seem to prefer to call me Mother Touloo, though I ahave no conception of who or what that is. Can you explain to me?
Aluradux and Elwin are fascinated by the tree, though the effect wears off after about a minute or so.
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Bodie seems unaffected.
Brother Tim offers information
"Bodie Creed, Champion of Iomadae & Knight of Golarion, at your service. Totally not from this place - we're from back in the Pact Worlds. While I do love a good beach, it's gotta have some tubular waves to make it a complete package. This place is a bit dry for my taste.
"I think that Mother Touloo is some kinda saint or visionary prophet for the locals."
[dice= mysticism]1d20+4
"Mother Touloo is some kind of local nature goddess. That fits conveniently with your line of work.
What I want to know is why are you here, now? Why not years or decades ago."
Oras is here, oras has always been here. Oras just is. If it makes people happy to think I’m Mother Touloo, why not just answer to the name? Maybe they all they need me to be is Mother Touloo. I’d be a pretty good mother. I like growing things. Isn’t my grove pretty?
Preposterous Yuluzak exclaims We can’t allow these people to worship this tree as if it were their goddess—it’s despicable!
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Elwin shakes his head and snaps out of his fugue.
Taking a minute to get his bearings and examine the facts, he looks at Yuluzak, "Well. Oras seems to follow the desires of Mother Touloo. Who is to say that the story didn't begin with her? Ultimately I think it would be the decision of Oras. Also, the society here is doing well but at a critical juncture. I'm not sure it would survive this."
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"Yuluzak, doesn't Damoritosh have semi-divine minions who patronize worshippers that appeal to them? I don't think it's despicable -- just pragmatic. Elwin is right. And you should know better than most here, the Ghibrani are balancing on a knife's edge. A little culinary disagreement turned into a food fight, and easily could have evolved into a real physical fight.
And you, oracle. You realize that in the long term, having the ghibrani worship you open them to emotional damage? Take Mother Touloo's name for now, but ease the ghibrani into an understanding of your true nature and Oras. It's the only real solution long term."
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Bodie ponders.
"Orus? Orus? What should I know about Orus, Brother Tim? For some reason, I think that she's kinda sketch..."
Brother Tim offers his counsel.
"Well, Orus is all about change & adaptation. And while her actions, & those of her agents, may tend toward being serendipitous, perhaps even chaotic, in this situation, I'd think that change is what the ghibrani need. They're already on their path from the caste system toward a merged society, so why not allow this Mother Tooloo to guide them along that path? Plus, this oasis is a fine symbol of things to come."
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[dice= mysticism]1d20+4
"Mother Touloo is some kind of local nature goddess. That fits conveniently with your line of work.
What I want to know is why are you here, now? Why not years or decades ago."Oras is here, oras has always been here. Oras just is. If it makes people happy to think I’m Mother Touloo, why not just answer to the name? Maybe they all they need me to be is Mother Touloo. I’d be a pretty good mother. I like growing things. Isn’t my grove pretty?
Preposterous Yuluzak exclaims We can’t allow these people to worship this tree as if it were their goddess—it’s despicable!
Aluradux frowns. "I wouldn't exactly call it despicable but I'm not sure that it hurts anyone if they want to believe it. Still...I worry about what might happen when the ghibrani inevitably discover the truth."
What Aluradux knows, is that mother Touloo is purely fictional, and rather vaguely described as the 'mother-who-will-provide'. It's definitely not a stretch to see Oras perform a similar role here, since this grove and the fruit that is provides (which is being eagerly consumed by the athletes, I must add) is exactly the kind of thing Mother Touloo is described to provide.
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Jek tries to teach the tree the proper trditional greeting and responses that mother Touloo would be expected to know. That should fall under Comprehend Customs and Jek will also use Communalism to roll twice.
"Sometimes they might call you "mother-who-will-provide" instead of just "Mother Touloo." That might be useful to know."
The group convincingly claims the tree is, in fact, the incarnation of Mother Touloo Mother Touloo provides! the athletes say as they taste the fresh fruits from the bushes that have sprouted in the grove. Word of the miracle quickly makes the rounds on the parade grounds on the group's return.
Klarima flutters her wings, going aloft with happiness. “That’s it, all our tasks are done, and we’re ready to open the festival up to full crowds tomorrow! I think it will be a glorious success, and it’s thanks to all your hard work! Get washed and rested, for tomorrow we start our opening ceremonies bright and early!”
Elytri’o Open is a roaring success, and after a colorful opening parade dozens of athletic events are held. Jeekso's games function without any trouble, and there is a brotherly atmosphere as Husk and Membrane athletes reach for the gold!
Yuluzak clasps the hands of the group. “It’s good to work with Starfinders again. May we always fight on the same side, my friends. Until next time!”