"How did you and the previous group of Starfinders get along? What were their names?" It occurs to her that assuming the previous group of outsiders was the Manta Corps could be a mistake. With such a rare and valuable resource at stake, any number of organizations would want to get their mitts on it too.
They left quite quickly Hinevera says, and then goes on to describe the members of the Manta Corps.
One of the morlamaws a dark blue morlamaw, arriving from an airlock. Hello there. I am Oshessa, I am the spiritual leader of this group. From where did you come? Such long flippers you have... can you swim well with those?
Hinevera then explains of the lodge: “The whole structure was flooded when we found it. The computers and other equipment in there don’t function underwater, so we managed to restore breathable air to a lot of the rooms. There are airlocks, like the one you just came in from, between some rooms. Still, we try to keep some areas filled with water—it’s just more comfortable for us.”
Feel free to the explore, though Oshessa's quarters and the reliquary are off-limits - they are behind airlocks.
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I quite understand, and being an aquatic myself, I also feel better in the water. And yes, I can swim well. with my ... erm ... flippers ... I could demonstrate if you like.
Anyway, Honoured to meet you Oshessa. I worship the Shining Butterfly myself but please, tell me more about your faith.
She then goes off to start exploring and cataloging.
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Twila-5 whips out her datapad to begin taking notes. As the conversation wends its way, she occasionally interjects with a question: "Where was your original homeland? ... Can you describe the predators that are threats to you? ... Can you tell us more about the Weeping Knight? ... Did the Manta Corps say anything about why they left so quickly?"
That last question really bugs her. She knows that the Manta Corps has a reputation for preferring to do things their own way, but they generally adhere to the spirit of the orders they receive. Why would they have left so quickly? To do something specific, or to *avoid* something specific?
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Gold-Flecked Black remains happily perched on Vega's shoulder, pretending to be a familiar.
Being around creatures capable of eating him in one bite (not to mention ones that *prefer* cephalopoids and other seafood) leaves him feeling quite nervous, like a halfling in a hill giant mosh-pit.
Telepathically, however, he agrees with Twila-5.
It is odd that they would disappear quickly, without further communication. Either they have gone to ground as part of an infiltration... or something has gone very badly wrong...
Ah, it's all about having meaning in one's life and being joyful. HIvera explains while Oshessa excuses herself. Perhaps you can join our sermon later? Feel free to look around in the meantime
A large curtain divides this room, and faint lines on the ground indicates that several walls were likely removed to make this space more open. A five-foot-high stage and eight rows of benches fill the northern half of the room, while the southern half has several large tables. An airlock on the eastern wall acts as a front door, and airlocks on the northern and southern walls lead to other areas. Steel doors lead to the north and south.
There's a half-dozen morlamaws, in colors ranging from blue to green to violet, pray quietly at the benches and work busily at the tables, some cleaning fish and others repairing clothing and equipment.
One of the steel doors has a label on it, in yellow tape, which reads “Do Not Enter”
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"How terrible to be forced to be refugees out of religious persecution. Who forced you to leave? Are they still a threat? Should we worry about them as we explore?"
As others share their religions, Stell gives hers. "I draw my religious inspiration from Weyden and Yaraesa. It might be hard to translate Weyden's ideas to those whose existence is surrounded by water. Weyden is sometimes called The Endless Horizon, but underwater there is no horizon. But I respect many traditions, so long as they promote good will and peaceful cooperation."
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Twila-5 deliberately slides her eyes past the door with the "Do Not Enter" tape across it as if she's not interested in what is behind it. Later. See how things play out first. It wouldn't do to antagonize allies, and there's not nearly enough evidence of foul play to make the risk worth it yet.
"Ah, it's all about having meaning in one's life and being joyful."
So why a spiked chain? That doesn't seem very joyful. The dissonance between the symbolism and the description nags at her as she meanders over to peek through the steel door to the south. She knocks first, so her intent seems innocuous. What if it's the bathroom? No sense in raising their suspicions just yet. She could be wrong, after all...
Stell digs in her brain, but other than the similarity with other aqueous creatures, nobody seems to have ever recorded the existence of Morlamaw before.
When Vega remarks about the Do Not Enter, Hinevera remarks Interesting you should say that. There are some robot behind that door, and I think they were damaged when the lodge flooded. They now attack anyone who enters. We were thinking... maybe you could help us with them?
Twila knocks on another door. ().
When she peeks through the door she sees museum-like room. A large portrait in the northeast corner displays an intense looking ysoki in an official uniform, while a painting on the wall nearby depicts the image of a broken chain. A bookshelf on the eastern wall contains several antique books, while a second shelf displays various pieces of broken chain. A stack of boxes has been tucked into the corner between the door to the south and the airlock to the west.
There's also a Morlamaw standing guard in the room. You can look around here the morlamaw explains, but beyond this airlock we keep our relics, and no-one may enter without Oshessa's explicit permission
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Stell begins to get suspicious about a number of things. Why did they avoid answering her questions about their exile. What if they are criminals and not merely good people persecuted for odd beliefs? If so, might they have done something hostile to the Manta Corps and their story of leaving quickly is just a cover-up? What is their religion all about and why all the chains?
While she ponders how to be diplomatic about her concerns, she follows Twila into the NE room, looks at the books and lifts the lid of one of the boxes.
The museum is largely a display of holy symbols, all broken chains like the one seen on the front door. Gold-flecked notices something while studying the wall painting in the room: the image of broken chains has been painted over: still a chain, but this one coming out of the eyes of a skull. Vega can quickly confirm this as a holy symbol of Zon-Kuthon, the god of darkness, envy, loss, and pain.
Many of the original books and displays have been boxed up and the morlamaw’s own minor relics laid out. There are many religious treatises still on the shelves here, and Vega can date these back to shortly after the end of Gap. The boxes include datapads with applications for learning Common and the history of the Starfinder Society and Pact Worlds from roughly 100 years ago.
Twila recognises the ysoki displayed on the painting as former First Seeker Lezosk. The portrait dates to a period almost 150 years ago, known as the Time of Uncertainty among Starfinders. First Seeker Lezosk took command of the Society during the later end of this troubled time and was responsible for various reforms. Lezosk’s last known act was to construct the Perplexity, a mysterious proving ground that exists to this day on the grounds of the Lorespire Complex. Lezosk disappeared shortly after. Portraits of this First Seeker are exceedingly rare, and likely of extreme value to the record keepers of the Lorespire Complex.
Stell has been counting Morlamaw, and has seen at least nine different ones so far. They're not really armed, but those tusks look sharp indeed.
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Twila-5 couldn't agree more with Gold-Flecked Black's assessment. She keeps the guard in the corner of her eye as she assists Vega in backing up the historical Starfinder data. She asks the museum guard: "Who would we talk to about getting permission to take some of the older Starfinder's items with us? Not your religious relics, of course."
Once they've gleaned all the info they can from the museum, Twila-5 nods to Vega and Gold-Flecked Black. "I'm ready to tackle that robot whenever you are."
Hinevera is quite quick to point out we have no need for that picture. It is interesting, though. You look nothing like this person, who is on there?
As the group explores further, their attention is drawn to the door that reads 'do not enter'.
Behind the door is a workshop. This crowded workshop has benches and a large cabinet lining the walls. The room is filled with disassembled computers, weapons, and gadgets. There's another exit on the other end of the room.
Within the room, two robots activate as soon as the door opens, voicing a beeping warning that anyone stepping in is about to be atomized. ()
---R1
Gold-Flecked Black
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Robot
Robot
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Dirk
Stell
Vega
Kalhoun
Twila
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GFB blasts the robot, and - as is well-known across the society - this particularly model doesn't handle excess electricity all that well.
Stells is worried that the building may spring a leak, but this is Starfinder Concrete. Not just the cheap stuff. Bullets will ping right off it, but hold off on the disintegrator cannon.
Fortunately, the robots don't have disintegrator cannons, but electricity emitters
---R1
Dirk
Stell
Vega
Kalhoun
Twila
---R2
Gold-Flecked Black
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Robot - Red (18)
Robot
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