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Stell has no interest in the larger, heavier weapons, nor those that required advanced training to use. She claims one of the suits of armor, taking time to change into it and transferring her armor upgrades to it.
She also takes the efficient bandolier and puts her semi-auto pistol and ammo in one pocket, her survival knife in another, and her spare batteries.
Each efficient bandolier includes an advanced AI capable of controlling the bandolier’s robotic components to suit your needs. As a swift action, you can command an efficient bandolier to draw up to 1 bulk worth of batteries or ammunition, placing the items directly into one of your hands.
The group takes a moment to inventorize and reclaim some Starfinder equipment.
Twila checks the door for traps, but hears only a rapid chopping sound coming from the other side. When she open, she finds a small rectangular room which measures about thirty feet across.
It has a single entrance. Cabinets and small counters line most of the walls here, with a cooking table and stove combination resting against the southern wall. A pike lies along one long counter with several fish speared on it.
A purple Morlamaw is busy cleaning some fish, and adding things to what seem to be preserve jars.
Hey, hullo. Don't mind me. I'm Zavlig, on cooking duty today. Pass me the salt, will you?
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Stay close, just in case. Twila-5 responds telepathically as she hands the salt to Zavlig. "Here you go. Do you guys rotate jobs?" She asks, wondering if this Morlamaw will be more forthcoming than the others. Not likely, but worth a shot. It occurs to her to offer to help, but she's always been a barely adequate cook, at best.
Yes, we all take our turn preparing food around here. Even Oshessa prepares some meals every now and then.
Gold-Flecked wonder about the fish... this particularly fish seems to be quite small, and not Kalo at all.
Stell's knowledge of fish makes her conclude that this is type is more akin to cod than to kalo. She doesn't notice anything else of note, though.
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Twila-5 is itching to search every nook and cranny of the kitchen for signs of foul play--something to justify the sense of foreboding that's been weighing on her. Doing so while Zavlig is preparing a meal would definitely let the Morlamaws know that the Starfinders are suspicious of them. Not yet. Maybe I can sneak back in during the sermon to give it a proper search. She decides to play it cool for now, and follows the others to the south airlock.
An airlock at the top of the staircase separates the flooded lower floor of the building from the upper floor. Beyond the airlock is a large facility lined with beds and chests. This space provides living space for potentially several dozen creatures.
ground by one of the curtained-off beds.
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When no Morlamaw is around, Stell quietly asks about what next. "If Vega finds no evidence of foul play down under water, we best decide what to do next. Our mission is to scout for places with the special ore and locate the previous team. We can ask the Marlamaw for a map of the ocean floor and set off to see what we can find. Maybe we can find other of their kind who can explain more about this seeminly renegade group."
Gold-Flecked spots the starfinder badge, which... looks to be way too new to have been part of the original lodge. The style is too modern for it to have originated from first Seeker Leszok's time.
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"Yes." Twila-5 is certain now. "So now: do we wait around for their sermon and try to gather more intel, or try to ask some other morlamaws about the local dangers so we can search outside. And no, Vega, I wouldn't advise any of us being alone with them. We don't want to have to search for you, too."
Hinevera looks a bit puzzled at Vega's request Didn't you come in from that side? There's just all the usual dangers from wildlife, you want to watch out for sea serpents and sharks, and don't step on the sea stars.
By the way, it is time for the sermon now. Are you ready to join?
The morlamaw population is already gather in the makeshift temple in the central area of the lodge.
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I did but we went straight for the door. A longer swim outside is likely to attract more danger but I am curious about what is out there. Besides, it's nice to feel the water in one's gills from time to time don't you think?
She settles down next to Hinevera to listen to the sermon. She also turns on the recorder on her comm unit to record and study it later.
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As Twila-5 re-enters the main gathering space, she surreptitiously keeps an eye on the kitchen door. If it ever opens when she's close enough, she's determined to try to slip through unnoticed. Instead of sitting on the benches with everyone else, she chooses a chair near the door. If anyone asks or encourages her to join them on the other side of the room, she'll reply: "Thanks, but I want some space for a bit. I can move closer if I can't hear."
Vega sits down for the sermon, while Twila tries to make it to the kitchen.
All eyes are on Oshessa as she takes the western stage and begins to speak. For the benefit of our new guests, I shall hold my sermon in Common. The sermon then continues on, speaking of the importance of loss to have meaning in one’s life, and “how, without pain, we would never appreciate the joyous things in life.”
phrase “joyous things.”, the way it emphasized
Oshessa makes large, expressive gestures with her flippers while moving around, and as she does so, deep scars can be spotted on Oshessa’s skin.
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Vega listened to the sermon although she did want to interject as what was said was a lot different from what her mother says in her sermons. Mind you, those were Desnian and the ones here were .... she wasn't sure but the theme of loss did seems to be a bit Zon-Kuthonian but pain wasn't mentioned much. Although loss could cause pain. Maybe she should have a talk with Oshessa after the sermon and try to clarify just what the bases of this faith was. It also doesn't help that she is not skilled in sensing motives.
Gold-Flecked picks up on the emphasis on 'Joyous things', and that's enough for Vega to confirm her suspicions that this isn't a Desna cult, and that there is some hint of Zon-Kuthonian themes here.
Almost all the Morlamaw's are here, attending the sermon, except for a single one: Teltham, one of the Morlamaws that greeted the group upon arrival.
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Twila-5 pockets a bottle of something that she's not sure of and slips back to the main room, activating her Cloaking Field just before opening the kitchen door and deactivating it when she's in the seat she had occupied and there are no eyes turned her way.
After a few minutes, she rises from her seat and slides in next to Kalhoun. Slipping the bottle out of her pocket, she whispers subtly: "Most of the ingredients in the kitchen are fish-based, but some aren't, and I can't ID them. Can you?"
Twila makes it back in time to notice Gold-Flecked isn't there. Not anywhere to be spotted.
Gold-Flecked sneaks close to the podium, but manages to remain unseen. He does find that the door is locked.
The hireling tries to pick the lock, but even with the unusual skill he displays, the lock doesn't budge.
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Stell feels none the wiser about what the Marlemaws might have to do with the disappearance of the Manta Corps. Although she feels she and the others are likely missing something, she is not sure what else to accomplish in the old lodge.
When she notices Teltham is absent, Stell looks into the NE room to see if they are there. If not found there, she strolls into the dining area, and into the two SE rooms.
Once the sermon ends, Stell wants to push the leader about the evidence found that the Manta Corp were in the room with the robot and also the Starfinder badge. She suspects the Marlamaws may have arrived after the Manta Corp entered the old lodge and perhaps killed the Starfinders or drove them away.
Kalhoun notices the (now empty) bottles contain some traces of Qabarat nutspice, a spice popular in Lashunta dishes, but poisonous to aquatic creatures.