"So... the tower was built to protect the planet from invaders from space? But even if it wasn't needed any more, you'd think people would take time and care altering something like that."
"Who cares? All this talk and no fighting makes Obozaya a dull lizard. Let's see some action already!" She revs her gun in anticipation.
"Also, if you think about it, we are the invaders here. If the tower wants to do its thing, it should be doing so the moment we got here." She adds.
"Obozaya has a point. At least, about the tower. If the defenses were working properly, we wouldn't have made it here as easily. So I'm guessing we'll run into trouble sooner than later"
Mehusel gathers you and the rest of the survey team in area A4 to
piece everything together. In addition to everything listed above, you learn:
The magitech tower network is currently falling out of a tenuous equilibrium and will likely fail entirely in a matter of weeks without proper intervention.
The original design of the magitech network was inspired by the
concepts of balance and symbiosis. It draws on these ideas as metaphysical concepts, using the them—and the naturally symbiotic relationships between objects and lifeforms on the planet—as a sort of power source. However, additional technology added to the towers at some later point was designed to exploit these metaphysical concepts, rather than exist in balance with them.
Tthe quantum technology added to the magitech towers was so different in form and function from the original tech, and so hastily installed, that it was likely installed in response to some external influence on the planet, or in preparation for armed conflict.
(pausing for a reaction)
"Conflict? But who would want to come here and fight?"
Navasi does not say "The Veskarium."
"Anyone who likes conquering other planets, for starters. Or someone they were in conflict with. Demons. Space monsters?"
"But where are they?" Iseph asks them, though they are sure they also don't know the answer.
"Such a harmonious symbiosis, carefully tapped by the native technology? And it was all thrown out of balance by a slapdash patch-job made by travelers who clearly didn't appreciate what they had stumbled upon."
Chk Chk clasps his chitinous hands together."So! How do we got about restoring its harmony?"
The captain’s voice crackles out of every comm unit in the area.
“Attention all survey teams! There’s been an accident at one of the towers! The magitech is responding! We’re processing the data as fast as we can, but we’re not sure what to expect next. Continue your observations but prioritize your safety. When you—”
The communication suddenly cuts off just as the jungle floods with the sounds of chirping and chattering wildlife. The sounds rapidly cut in and out, like audio playing through a loose connection. In sync with the sound, wildlife appears and disappears from sight: a flock of colorful birds appears above the tree line, seemingly out of nowhere, and flies a few yards before vanishing again. Small, rocky lifeforms wearing robes and huddling in a corner near the magitech console also flash in and out of existence, muttering to one another in astonishment at the sight of the survey team. The oscillating sights and sounds slowly stabilize, and the beings and wildlife stop vanishing just as a massive crack appears in the sky above—the planet’s shield is under enormous stress. The rocky lifeforms cry out in alarm, but a bellowing beast that appears near the tower drowns out their shouts.
Obozaya has the decency to look sheepish when Navasi makes a veiled reference to her people's warlike nature. She decides not to press the topic but is certainly rendered tongue tied. She tunes out the message from the captain, but the roar of the beast snaps her out of it.
"Oh, that does not sound good." She says as she starts revving her minigun in anticipation.
Chk Chk?
Chk Chk looks around at the wildlife that seems to flicker in and out of reality. The bellowing beast doesn't seem to lower his spirits all that much.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see what made that noise."
Please follow the maps link posted above, fill out the first slide, and then place your token in the green box in the second slide.
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You may all roll your own initiative. There is the bellowing beast and two ferns that seem to be acting weirdly.